| Scrape | 23 |
|---|---|
| Id | 1,026 |
| Active | 1 |
| Created Epoch | 1,719,187,203 |
| Modified Epoch | 1,723,678,811 |
| Scrape Epoch | 1,719,187,381 |
| Created | 6/23/24, 7:00 PM |
| Modified | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM |
| Status | completed |
| Notes | |
| Dataset External No | 1026 |
| Filename |
| Id | Active | Status | Created | Modified | Created Epoch | Modified Epoch | Notes | Scrape Result Id | Original Ad Id | Adarchiveid | Collationcount | Collationid | Currency | Enddate | Entitytype | Fevinfo | Gatedtype | Hasuserreported | Hiddensafetydata | Hidedatastatus | Impressionstext | Impressionsindex | Isaaaeligible | Isactive | Isprofilepage | Pageid | Pageinfo | Pageisdeleted | Pagename | Reachestimate | Reportcount | Ad Creative Id | Byline | Caption | Cta Text | Dynamic Versions | Effective Authorization Category | Display Format | Title | Link Description | Link Url | Page Welcome Message | Creation Time | Page Id | Page Name | Page Profile Picture Url | Page Entity Type | Page Is Profile Page | Instagram Actor Name | Instagram Profile Pic Url | Instagram Url | Instagram Handle | Is Reshared | Version | Body | Branded Content | Current Page Name | Disclaimer Label | Page Like Count | Page Profile Uri | Page Is Deleted | Root Reshared Post | Cta Type | Additional Info | Ec Certificates | Country Iso Code | Instagram Branded Content | Spend | Startdate | Statemediarunlabel | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1889864 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/30/25, 3:13 AM | 1719188612 | 1748592819 | 1026 | 1661173141091166 | 1 | 1.9168541054323E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 321329421069249 | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | 120210802240210354 | www.medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ชTransform Your Face & Body with Our Rejuvenation Treatments | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/aesthx-04-optin | 1718746844 | 3.2132942106925E+14 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448763442_1138283817397522_6168981504120248208_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qyfe75vLC3MQ7kNvgGjKkgb&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA06DHtem2X1s36uG3zefX3zZyTaAfBIp0XMJSjLaCCuQ&oe=667E7BB6 | person_profile | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448350437_3631435303774767_1088555037417623730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=S6fniWRTp3sQ7kNvgERr-zp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYD62TwYFWn0iGrAVpecjgaQxiqv4EJDYb0tkXbDI0Vdqw&oe=667EA041 | 0 | 3 | ๐ฃ ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> ๐ Say goodbye to saggy skin and hello to a more youthful look! ๐<br /> <br /> โ Our personalized treatments can lift, tighten, and enhance the face and body, all while being safe and non-invasive! ๐โโ๏ธ<br /> <br /> ๐ฐ For a limited time only, claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular Body & Facial treatment packages, including:<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Lifts the jawline, eyelids and eyebrows to smooth and improve overall appearance!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ($๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats wrinkles, skin discoloration and scars, typically on the face!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ($๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Quick collagen inducing treatment which can improve pores, fine lines & wrinkles, loss of elasticity, minor scarring (including acne scarring) and sun damage!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น (๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Gently & permanently reduce or remove hair from any area of the body!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats dark patches and spots on the skin to speed up the process of cellular turnover! Treatments are safe, effective, and good for all skin types and all forms of Melasma!<br /> <br /> ๐ฉโโ๏ธ Here at ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ซ Our experienced team works to create a treatment plan tailored to each individual's unique needs and budget.<br /> <br /> Don't wait!! Request a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ now and take the first step towards a more confident you! ๐ฏ<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim the offer! ๐ | Aesthx - Aiea | 2 | https://facebook.com/61560821612119 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889879 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 6/5/25, 7:14 PM | 1719188613 | 1749168871 | 1026 | 365855076118908 | 3 | 3.3648576955084E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120216103911250151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1718288275 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448332028_482980670940151_7258040103689882845_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UTh0-2kG15oQ7kNvgHVnXx4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAq62BGGkb6kgr0zztLR63ldnpY4YJiGe4mD0Wi7_-E9g&oe=667E7BB0 | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448056180_475076755066871_5021403886041184126_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6LZbJnEifuMQ7kNvgHjd65y&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDycOBqEPo9P1rq9kmND-sHaRW7oKXmvH8qE23tEa4SvA&oe=667E7FB9 | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT1KVxT2an6rQw_FPzBc8BZjWolvS5QP_2_rBjL1T4RtnjFuuVJdXLh3QS-84TmEoOUb_MrJlgaPpmrOg6LPiHHNvv2veYVjXaqBBO6F9XDt19rnnPvKp7w8-pAshoiuQQzilviVLLTIDMVvx-bBejfPl-NIkQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889876 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/9/25, 12:35 PM | 1719188613 | 1746812157 | 1026 | 833783658641302 | 1 | 1.7034657335232E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 325257210674037 | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | 120210844365540782 | medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | image | SEMAGIUTIDE: Fast & Sustainable Results! | Free Medical Aesthetics Consultation | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/melt-medical-14-optin | 1718900639 | 3.2525721067404E+14 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448529741_1008357944059287_3252851791180152288_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lzIkJPYZe04Q7kNvgF4BDtM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA9U30Sbh-Xg0cVvbUkdk2a_mQt2zl_i1MRlyHs7iI4mA&oe=667E7986 | person_profile | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448699346_361820660259234_2380655671103064333_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4VO0qKjZvXMQ7kNvgGUsWjT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCk3wTRW34OVVbHWThSU6zu5up-56nFFB8UAotAPoGf9A&oe=667E916C | 0 | 3 | ๐โโ๏ธ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ & ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> Are you tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of dieting and weight gain? ๐<br /> <br /> Our ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ can help you break that cycle and achieve the results youโve been looking for! ๐ช<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + $๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ treatment plans, making it easier than ever to get started! ๐<br /> <br /> So letโs say goodbye to the old you and hello to the new, healthier, happier you! ๐ | Melt Medical - Burbank | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560447488435 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888880 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 5/3/25, 7:19 PM | 1719188464 | 1746317942 | 1026 | 1009154180733870 | 3 | 3.8416801106502E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 108272370946537 | 0 | Fanscustom.com | 23856758333220292 | fanscustom.com | Shop now | NONE | image | FROM $24.99 | Buy Best Cheap Authentic Custom Baseball Gradient Fashion Jerseys Free Shipping, Womens Youth Mens Custom Baseball Gradient Fashion Jerseys For Sale, Build Your Own Baseball Gradient Fashion Jerseys Online. | https://www.fanscustom.com/collections/baseball-gradient-fashion | 1716443486 | 1.0827237094654E+14 | Fanscustom.com | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/363826097_1535668110584086_8262262699597251274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gA4nbDeqn0YQ7kNvgFTGy3R&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAIxR1e4KPa-FlodwqVWVGu_dMlTaI1J91iJ9lZ60LCfQ&oe=667E8F28 | person_profile | 0 | FANSCUSTOM | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/363432872_300505545808979_3034973220938657523_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gkwI8xWYeuwQ7kNvgH3OV2G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGx7oYdSr_DSW0vXfaeK6iJApMdITZ31AqrzScsK3I1Q&oe=667EA3D2 | 0 | 3 | ๐Customize Your Name/Number/Logo<br /> โกUse code FST10 to get 10% Off on your order<br /> ๐ Order here ๐<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2F2hnc2t4s&h=AT2c773xzOHMZ1CAeZh61-a4-tgGPC6MU_sD27y2Bx-KaKh6kbwK1G-uX9-gvw00rdk9ufRPdmsUp3FxNv17WADNbs5l1mUTYRrfnOKP1xd92So17M5qykqIbUGyG9qbihmkI2XbjIVaDPjYafq-tNIgEHaZpw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://tinyurl.com/2hnc2t4s</a> | Fanscustom.com | 11531 | https://facebook.com/FansCustomShop | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889839 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 4/24/25, 6:29 PM | 1719188609 | 1745537390 | 1026 | 450333610945552 | 1 | 2.4378507330809E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 106080532469659 | 0 | Soulmaty | 120210285855220063 | soulmaty.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Dance First Think Later | Free shipping over $69 | https://www.soulmaty.com/collections/best-seller?utm_medium=SIM&utm_campaign={{campaign.id}}&utm_content=HSO392&ids=a0c2576d-c4e3-4e0b-bf67-bf68baba5bb3%2Ce7e2f3f1-22f7-48e9-9c91-7749822962b4&show_page=first_page%3Futm_campaign%3D{{campaign.id}}&utm_adset={{adset.id}}&utm_ad={{ad.id}} | 1716802023 | 1.0608053246966E+14 | Soulmaty | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444501687_1118315319400805_8255729419478053464_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jrB9lqv7waEQ7kNvgGqLXth&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBTAinkGS1EdUG4w_-TL6f1mRgswiMj6EoFFA8QDrh-iw&oe=667E85B0 | person_profile | 0 | SOULMATY | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444484991_430302113045988_8480427307286860332_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DgeWZKlUvHoQ7kNvgHr_9-t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAW9-YatgMCby1wBgfkrI8v_d0X80d_EorxsK1pmtexQA&oe=667E9318 | 0 | 3 | Let's Dance Together...๐ต๐ถ<br /> ๐ต๐ถDance the night away on the dance floor.๐๐บ<br /> Get โก20% off New Year's Sale (code:NY20) | Soulmaty | 4093 | https://facebook.com/100092306265111 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889861 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/13/25, 11:22 AM | 1719188612 | 1747153379 | 1026 | 474424268394526 | 1 | 9.9470755531995E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 321329421069249 | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | 120210802240150354 | www.medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ชTransform Your Face & Body with Our Rejuvenation Treatments | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/aesthx-04-optin | 1718746853 | 3.2132942106925E+14 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448760685_490106970141470_4831143996939553767_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O4oBbA-mzNoQ7kNvgFns55t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA5s3SOfR-PzWVBm0wHz3NRgHdMd84TfjSvLzepOlrUQQ&oe=667E8C5D | person_profile | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448756286_854735313164489_2312173039373472613_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=N9RL1p-ALWUQ7kNvgEp07P2&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDh0Iziv6GINj_-GnESVbJiBRtnXG5-uIH0rtyvcAWuRQ&oe=667E999A | 0 | 3 | ๐ฃ ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> ๐ Say goodbye to saggy skin and hello to a more youthful look! ๐<br /> <br /> โ Our personalized treatments can lift, tighten, and enhance the face and body, all while being safe and non-invasive! ๐โโ๏ธ<br /> <br /> ๐ฐ For a limited time only, claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular Body & Facial treatment packages, including:<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Lifts the jawline, eyelids and eyebrows to smooth and improve overall appearance!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ($๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats wrinkles, skin discoloration and scars, typically on the face!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ($๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Quick collagen inducing treatment which can improve pores, fine lines & wrinkles, loss of elasticity, minor scarring (including acne scarring) and sun damage!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น (๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Gently & permanently reduce or remove hair from any area of the body!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats dark patches and spots on the skin to speed up the process of cellular turnover! Treatments are safe, effective, and good for all skin types and all forms of Melasma!<br /> <br /> ๐ฉโโ๏ธ Here at ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ซ Our experienced team works to create a treatment plan tailored to each individual's unique needs and budget.<br /> <br /> Don't wait!! Request a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ now and take the first step towards a more confident you! ๐ฏ<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim the offer! ๐ | Aesthx - Aiea | 2 | https://facebook.com/61560821612119 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888932 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 416526867943445 | 1 | 7.6142898584583E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 337782656077360 | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | 120212457540530592 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/Gm09h7-0524-EN-694790.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1716974468 | 3.3778265607736E+14 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445372749_806966594400367_8328680758778900513_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8D7aXJWO9g0Q7kNvgEUIAk_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA2pIsW6vP5nCj79FiO_wTSgW8XvXFIllXCKIv7m5PUpw&oe=667E7D5A | person_profile | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445517830_981120310045018_357273464333431315_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lWC0DYAmmxoQ7kNvgGOxOF_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDnGwdeIsH7bGBKEm51p3gjcy5-61z1RQWTDXQgkJ4vwA&oe=667E9971 | 0 | 3 | Reborn - I am the Protagonist ONLY on Miiow TV.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Happy Drama Catching Up | 22 | https://facebook.com/61559368364181 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888938 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 892703319568425 | 1 | 3.6637550238837E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114970411603490 | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 120212262199680247 | l.adbuilder.pro | Learn more | NONE | video | By Fran Slade | Details and contact info >>> | https://l.adbuilder.pro/OvaANp/39208 | 1718903886 | 1.1497041160349E+14 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448623698_376510388773693_141870871798975928_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C7AxaAzindEQ7kNvgFb1w8C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDKbZESsbaQ6z89-pO9is1qjAyPxWmqpNMt0x3XtRgVyw&oe=667E9606 | person_profile | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448511445_1513439296219906_8265572527927209513_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SQ8OM6ldy2EQ7kNvgEqIi2W&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBFnti226ILlMAPaDOK92nW_3lRRQAXow74Ebz1z_jIVw&oe=667EA641 | 0 | 3 | Recently sold in 22181! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home's worth? Reach out for a free analysis. | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 31 | https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888940 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 490640836864603 | 1 | 4.3991740549575E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114588168402434 | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - PHL | 120211137016050312 | l.spherebuilder.io | Learn more | NONE | video | By Stephen Gebhardt | Details and contact info >>> | https://l.spherebuilder.io/9Jem7U/38394 | 1718826953 | 1.1458816840243E+14 | SphereBuilder Community - PHL | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562204_1431168020890007_745976605072904224_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9SKvm6aHkNoQ7kNvgGO81jd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCek7G-zVIMebNNkVO1bHlj0nd_7nantYAsLAh5JAcI7A&oe=667E817B | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448768012_989074432417472_5310091000540511162_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=BoqGWr0drtIQ7kNvgFHkGF0&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDCQPvApdkD_KjnJfsmpsgzFJJGz2CkS2n_jY5W3Ltt2w&oe=667E7AE9 | 0 | 3 | Recently sold in 17050! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home's worth? Reach out for a free analysis. | SphereBuilder Community - PHL | 23 | https://facebook.com/spherebuilderphl | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888944 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 791877586429180 | 1 | 2.8265692153565E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 396047487611323 | 0 | Body Restore | 120210068042160249 | mybodyrestore.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Shop Body Restore! | https://mybodyrestore.com/products/eucalyptus-shower-steamers | 1718729963 | 3.9604748761132E+14 | Body Restore | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448471967_312606958588842_2279773221256357662_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CnM6WNfqyRgQ7kNvgE-OInE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDowUWCNMWHkbMutdoMDpTb3NjRbU5MsmlkWZkSsBtSqw&oe=667E92C8 | person_profile | 0 | Body Restore โข | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448375913_969310304672873_2081564214470204027_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=tsY6hSA_Y08Q7kNvgHCSz8u&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpJAnh9x9FbGAE6XLavLQJSXLg__mASfT3lHJeEWtXXA&oe=667E727A | 0 | 3 | Welcome back! ๐ Time to refresh with Body Restore's Shower Steamers! Explore our scents and elevate your self-care routine. ๐ Shop now and feel the difference! | Body Restore | 2564 | https://facebook.com/bodyrestoreco | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888945 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1665339414270137 | 1 | 4.823959509132E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 396047487611323 | 0 | Body Restore | 120210068042130249 | mybodyrestore.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Shop Body Restore! | https://mybodyrestore.com/products/eucalyptus-shower-steamers | 1718729964 | 3.9604748761132E+14 | Body Restore | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448690720_1910321866047307_3195813959001934665_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HBjGszqHfycQ7kNvgF4rT_Q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA2uJFwEBoUUKJKW9xvsX12zt-9CFgcEVaFVNcB7gnOJg&oe=667E8EE3 | person_profile | 0 | Body Restore โข | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448603651_793790689630060_7908963416288708471_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=q_Y8UzlEIdAQ7kNvgFiacpt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYChfjZ2O6z4U6y4V2k6ZWrOGe_CqklaBWjLUluGtdW9YA&oe=667EA8ED | 0 | 3 | Welcome back! ๐ค Ready to transform your shower? Body Restore's Shower Steamers are here to elevate your self-care game. Shop now and indulge in ultimate relaxation! โจ | Body Restore | 2564 | https://facebook.com/bodyrestoreco | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888946 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1728496294346866 | 1 | 1.5014414071511E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 396047487611323 | 0 | Body Restore | 120210068022410249 | mybodyrestore.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Shop Body Restore! | Nasal congestion relief Infused with organic, natural essential oils imported from the UK, our shower vapor menthol soothers wrap you with a strong, heavenly Eucalyptus and Mint scent that awakens your senses. It is great for a gift or for personal daily use, Individually wrapped, they will remain f... | https://mybodyrestore.com/products/eucalyptus-shower-steamers | 1718729851 | 3.9604748761132E+14 | Body Restore | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448505406_437988015814330_5511001050602580350_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5IcjR6MZGN8Q7kNvgGM3-Fz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB6k1CdQXcLk2JQar0OSAnAt7oB-0PLUaMC3UtKHBU3zg&oe=667EA938 | person_profile | 0 | Body Restore โข | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448509081_342875382173479_6680382434787895450_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T2mNcuOigGQQ7kNvgEFkssO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCo44v3ttD6IUnb2IpLy-8QKFLu2zOBJbXLqaUZteAwMA&oe=667E7C42 | 0 | 3 | Get ready to refresh and relax with Body Restore! โจ Our Shower Steamers are back to enhance your self-care routine. Explore our scents and shop now! ๐ | Body Restore | 2564 | https://facebook.com/bodyrestoreco | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888947 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 482725294151404 | 1 | 4.4261531520087E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114970411603490 | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 120212179621650247 | l.adbuilder.pro | Learn more | NONE | video | By Guy D Allen | Details and contact info >>> | https://l.adbuilder.pro/en78ag/16167 | 1718541985 | 1.1497041160349E+14 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448351560_453123130673640_5205541478439974642_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ALqHDk7uzHgQ7kNvgH8GNVF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBDtgM6oyMm6_WlAMI_XclaZ-kot4sXjXJ96T7CuUjQ0Q&oe=667E9B9F | person_profile | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448405500_1188323585530279_3244467143840792319_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qS0uxhZJmCQQ7kNvgGKgBvq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAQSpEhi3cdQ3OKvXcfM2kt_ykzG1wnBlUNLd23uzUjRg&oe=667E8B1A | 0 | 3 | Recently sold in 22193! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home's worth? Reach out for a free analysis. | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 31 | https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888948 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 772325178281125 | 1 | 9.9350637239516E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114588168402434 | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - PHL | 120211060503860312 | l.adbuilder.pro | Learn more | NONE | video | By William E Bray Jr. | Details and contact info >>> | https://l.adbuilder.pro/3KDu0U/37244 | 1718578920 | 1.1458816840243E+14 | SphereBuilder Community - PHL | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448375490_466955209259733_5305201647654806906_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WW4qATqRFFcQ7kNvgHY-Jwp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCJKexgqn5YbKxVZpFjm6ZxSHyrsXmKY7aoiccurI5MeQ&oe=667EA835 | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448288341_835947344618460_8369803783319007477_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UXC2XtTFP9QQ7kNvgHHpPSR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCWvgMMliXd5WoWMC5tvJBIzYMpIjjQsjlROvRU9gk2Mg&oe=667E7BF1 | 0 | 3 | Recently sold in 17578! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home's worth? Reach out for a free analysis. | SphereBuilder Community - PHL | 23 | https://facebook.com/spherebuilderphl | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888949 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1692401788266058 | 1 | 9.810903833232E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114970411603490 | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 120212154483060247 | l.adbuilder.pro | Learn more | NONE | video | By Jose M Fuentes | Details and contact info >>> | https://l.adbuilder.pro/xUsnWB/36926 | 1718402651 | 1.1497041160349E+14 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448327817_1225995872111859_277120688701394264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3EOOCH-Wi-cQ7kNvgEnpcoF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAvxB2H7nLNsgewR3WxilUZXjl8EP9dDSyEhr1ssqQwbQ&oe=667EA939 | person_profile | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448068275_1595781717876890_734942308825020666_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RuLMvMUoV0cQ7kNvgGXDrB9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCdo0EZTsr3ekfaMsbD3jsklYQ62P0yK8X7nD4B1U7f1g&oe=667E7B26 | 0 | 3 | Recently sold in 22015! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home's worth? Reach out for a free analysis. | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 31 | https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888950 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 1218703916222042 | 1 | 1.2064794838557E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114970411603490 | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 120212135682580247 | l.adbuilder.pro | Learn more | NONE | video | By Michele J. Hughes | Details and contact info >>> C: 301-641-5000 | https://l.adbuilder.pro/T4lCOR/19835 | 1718325662 | 1.1497041160349E+14 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448430404_1107667190327740_685275209755439001_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=s52m2IEhV10Q7kNvgEZtgmi&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC2MrJTSxLFeGKjKUT4ZIQj75Ym4VI9PcieRQLjiU0GUw&oe=667E82D0 | person_profile | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448430148_1174027690683744_2989084496664263341_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mmWguoczRTIQ7kNvgE1WKrn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAqXKvqpIsliLKjgb2qOaIwhF4drl-I1J7UUvgLL93hXw&oe=667E9F9B | 0 | 3 | Recently sold in 20659! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home's worth? Reach out for a free analysis. | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 31 | https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888951 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 387783827016490 | 1 | 9.9182643583732E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 163805856980135 | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 120211618951220343 | www.hsacm.org | Learn more | NONE | video | Launch Your Future | Enroll now! | https://www.hsacm.org/ | 1718139039 | 1.6380585698014E+14 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448334699_1403410521060312_8932002804847911293_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=laZWF6-i930Q7kNvgEAO7-E&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCzlulO6aaXs3l3eVUH6g2TPEYmMWocEfB3v7e6JI01qw&oe=667E8795 | person_profile | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448207417_762539709420789_2744723610130811741_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4PYPW4IYZ-cQ7kNvgGs9oYR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvpDRJ6AWjllPjhyBsMVVoMKi772ujFQdLTrrscNiJZw&oe=667E76EB | 0 | 3 | Our programs are designed to prepare students for high school with a strong focus on STEM. | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 495 | https://facebook.com/hsacincy | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888952 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 435005285991481 | 1 | 4.3284074955139E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 163805856980135 | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 120211618993370343 | www.hsace.org | Learn more | NONE | video | Transform Your Child's Education | Click here to get more details. | https://www.hsace.org/ | 1718139337 | 1.6380585698014E+14 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448088631_768196968804371_7901778229864582323_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KfmVSiPJDqYQ7kNvgFHnX00&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtb2OeY-ixBWWVSGTxmqFGwOJJkgWTkwngbu6Hp7kgYQ&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448086847_434694529441421_4584160926530271876_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=un7CU4qMadoQ7kNvgGwW_aD&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDusc8RryzoLlM5XbD-nX7MStjdeWf3S2I8m8uxpoxhtA&oe=667E7E2B | 0 | 3 | We empower students with the STEM knowledge and skills they need to thrive in high school, college, and beyond. | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 495 | https://facebook.com/hsacincy | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888953 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 448619787793196 | 1 | 1.5124171362981E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 163805856980135 | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 120214845368610001 | es.horizondayton.org | Learn more | NONE | video | A World-Class STEM Education Awaits | Personalized education. | https://es.horizondayton.org/ | 1718131567 | 1.6380585698014E+14 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448204388_770640221821131_5680029816295924654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fT9_Wv3ubC0Q7kNvgFlfxZb&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCDYTSzC3HETLZCs_k_Qys5Ljy-eW15uq0SMuK0hqcb7A&oe=667E9C49 | person_profile | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448205511_771629544960929_2547789274177790867_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hJyJtktonzAQ7kNvgGfmaPa&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCDIH_Z2ciziqETq3w-RoKRCLijBhVNZx2KCUe9o-FkzQ&oe=667E9EDB | 0 | 3 | Enroll your child in a nurturing and innovative learning environment prioritizing academic excellence and student development. | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 495 | https://facebook.com/hsacincy | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888954 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 848409443859422 | 1 | 9.591200126715E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 163805856980135 | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 120211618856930343 | www.hsapk2.org | Apply now | NONE | video | Unlock Your Childโs Potential | Join us and dream big. | https://www.hsapk2.org/ | 1718138871 | 1.6380585698014E+14 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448136489_987589559472904_8367793262890166345_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4Uow2qRWQ8oQ7kNvgGbJIUs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBSggU4sbQRoWVpMlIZy6XxPNLORs4MwLfR-GErIwxZ3A&oe=667E8C59 | person_profile | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448248020_846484203960369_8783886301845663906_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=33LNEfzPYgkQ7kNvgGMIJhu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAPtpcSuuIdT4kUkzWbZ1HrxVqx1PyFPwosnQzm4_m6PQ&oe=667E9FB3 | 0 | 3 | With a focus on STEM and college prep, we help students reach their potential. Our non-selective enrollment welcomes all backgrounds. | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 495 | https://facebook.com/hsacincy | 0 | APPLY_NOW | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888955 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 970442631538124 | 1 | 1.7929728479024E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 163805856980135 | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 120211618770020343 | www.hsach.org | Learn more | NONE | video | Build Your Future | Enroll today! | https://www.hsach.org/ | 1718138744 | 1.6380585698014E+14 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448104869_778656601064593_7305632038757005182_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9t8o0259dTsQ7kNvgGwjJFg&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYACkzblfs813pCpvO0cC5xcbKwOqkpb7ttT70BNzT9lug&oe=667E744A | person_profile | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447995150_785474507054921_2000840126181920371_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YYJWa0SbYo4Q7kNvgEpNW2U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDPUo3BrKEBThrHMo-1gEjlELMG6k0ATQBHFlsx5IGmPw&oe=667E8B2E | 0 | 3 | We move the needle for our students by offering a high-quality, tuition-free education that is open to everyone. | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 495 | https://facebook.com/hsacincy | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888956 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 984917466226088 | 1 | 4.9261796322104E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 163805856980135 | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 120214845406370001 | dt.horizondayton.org | Learn more | NONE | video | Unleash The Innovator In Your Child | Award-winning education. | https://dt.horizondayton.org/ | 1718131788 | 1.6380585698014E+14 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448302603_3328380850791719_3194383683722198385_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-IwJxtt4lKYQ7kNvgGwsJT5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCvlEe2yRTs1-QxQSK9y0MbMBYRAtZjvgEpovV2vXypwQ&oe=667EA7AF | person_profile | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448207177_1125695195398917_5146607627767514151_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lvh8Kq5lfFQQ7kNvgGbxHHy&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB-Ui0u2rRNF4tLIrKcmo3mQ_VmC5R66ArygEmyud897g&oe=667EA3AD | 0 | 3 | We welcome students of all backgrounds and nationalities to our close-knit community. | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 495 | https://facebook.com/hsacincy | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888957 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 1166759227810529 | 1 | 3.1041095545587E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 163805856980135 | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 120211298434110191 | www.horizoncincy.org | Learn more | NONE | video | Start Your Child's Journey At Horizon | Limited spots are available! | https://www.horizoncincy.org/ | 1718137812 | 1.6380585698014E+14 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447994170_6003036086487330_5045362966344685653_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sMzQJDv1L_8Q7kNvgFu8dmY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCWgyhcZHhIpWn44Nqz9YxrR_fbHb-Xyyo4Bfgclk9edQ&oe=667EA7B2 | person_profile | 0 | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448019686_1542389986341741_6942571891388402793_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=RcpyJsONZbMQ7kNvgGOZHlo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5CGUgxH_5krAiq30Qro9xibwS5FzvDuRD06fC0Wt0gA&oe=667EA5F3 | 0 | 3 | Our K-8 charter school offers free, top-tier education emphasizing STEM and college readiness. | Horizon Science Academy Cincinnati | 495 | https://facebook.com/hsacincy | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888964 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888965 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888966 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888967 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888968 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888969 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888970 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888971 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888972 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888973 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888974 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888975 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888976 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888977 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888978 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888979 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888980 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888981 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888983 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888984 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888986 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888988 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888990 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888992 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888994 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888996 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888998 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889000 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889002 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889004 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889006 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889008 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889012 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889016 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889018 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889020 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889023 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889024 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889028 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889030 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889032 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889034 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889036 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889039 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889040 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889042 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889044 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889048 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889052 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889054 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889056 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889058 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889060 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889076 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 679771527573816 | 1 | 9.5691207609713E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 108164895515 | 0 | LifeCare Alliance | 120208883012670396 | lifecarealliance.org | Learn more | NONE | image | Supporting Independence & Dignity | You can make a difference! | https://www.lifecarealliance.org/beingtherematters/ | 1714765915 | 108164895515 | LifeCare Alliance | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144986_672527694998886_2515713942064662129_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_0BV0uSQJ2sQ7kNvgHgf7cC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBQKZmjjgvO-cKoPNci5EH9mw6wXxGqYQ5byXyzdzMXLQ&oe=667EA777 | person_profile | 0 | LifeCare Alliance | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440413863_1589580615151604_4716376650662036087_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6Ywrr7gIdakQ7kNvgGBTaCd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAH6mlwBOfvnF4BwciGRngnK_TW8XRvyODgvbibxv7eMw&oe=667EA382 | 0 | 3 | Explore the vital services we provide for seniors and those with medical challenges. From Meals on Wheels to our Free Cancer Clinic, Help-at-Home and so much more, Being There Matters. Join the Alliance โ donate or volunteer today! | LifeCare Alliance | 4043 | https://facebook.com/LifeCareAlliance | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889079 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889080 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889082 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889084 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889086 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889088 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188475 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889090 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188476 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889092 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188476 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889094 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188477 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889096 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188477 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889100 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889104 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889108 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188479 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889109 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188479 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889111 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188479 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889114 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188480 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889115 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188480 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889117 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889119 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889121 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889123 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889125 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889127 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889131 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889133 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889135 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188483 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889137 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188483 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889139 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188483 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889142 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188484 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889143 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188484 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889147 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188485 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889149 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188485 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889151 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188485 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889154 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889156 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889158 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889162 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889164 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889166 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889169 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678817 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889170 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889172 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889174 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889176 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889178 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889182 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889186 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889190 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889192 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889194 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889196 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889198 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889202 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889206 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889210 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889214 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889218 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188491 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889220 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188491 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889222 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889224 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889225 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889226 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889227 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889228 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889229 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889230 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889231 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889232 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889233 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889234 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889235 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889236 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889237 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 976133923970880 | 1 | 1.1303900481905E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889239 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889240 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889241 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889242 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889243 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889244 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889245 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188494 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889246 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188494 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889247 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188494 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889248 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188494 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1005409230616793 | 1 | 1.0113540739448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889250 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188494 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889251 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188494 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889252 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188495 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889253 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188495 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889254 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188495 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889255 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188495 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889257 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889258 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889259 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889260 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889261 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889262 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889263 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889264 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889265 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188496 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889266 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188497 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889267 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188497 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889268 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188497 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126652285269237 | 1 | 9.8335474649662E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889269 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188497 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889270 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188497 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889271 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889272 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889273 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889274 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889275 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889276 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889277 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889278 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1126933725081666 | 1 | 9.8853905281982E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889279 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889280 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188498 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889281 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889282 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889283 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889284 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889285 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889286 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889287 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889289 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889291 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889293 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889295 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889298 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889299 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1181375766379697 | 3 | 1.1942899153564E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210266081300342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn more | NONE | image | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718538479 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448509010_1214084763288739_1104896777474452522_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-o2dk0kizD4Q7kNvgEXswR3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCalhX4cBFLBYy__if-sxTWvh6D7P5YfpoE9MwYu24Cig&oe=667EA116 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448352512_790018013271203_4452227486846109300_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-NNlATSIdREQ7kNvgEDkga3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBdauDU6hiHKHZ2x0W2CQXIp1WfCxDRInnoE-aKyVI3xQ&oe=667E93CD | 0 | 3 | ๐Everyone in Norvania knew who Nathan Morrison was. But nobody knew I was his wife. More sadly, when I was tortured by criminals, he was sleeping with another woman...<br /> <br /> Open the app and continue reading the rest of the story . ๐<br /> (It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app)<br /> <br /> ๐Due to FB has a limit on the amount of text, Pls Download Goodnovel to read Full version ๐ | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889301 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889303 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889305 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889307 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889309 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188502 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889311 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188502 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889315 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188502 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889319 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889321 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889323 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889327 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889329 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889331 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889334 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188505 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889338 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188505 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889342 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889345 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889350 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188507 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889354 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188507 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889358 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188508 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889360 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188508 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889362 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188509 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889365 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188509 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889366 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188509 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889368 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188510 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889370 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188510 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 3582184068778650 | 5 | 4.6618695600166E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210266080450342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718538480 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448489671_1391580851514921_7579882663924677641_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uExq_kpplMwQ7kNvgES0-dD&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDAA1vmWFWrao7R95_Z44ljOTZEBjTfusU0xDs1gWf43Q&oe=667E975A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417423609_1495156501382011_2674469630175585469_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nNz8Xue09NEQ7kNvgEpaDsQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBTvpV9Y1pVv3ShIWJxPYjVzX00ay9di8j9BXzVi-Kc1g&oe=667E8D93 | 0 | 3 | ๐Everyone in Norvania knew who Nathan Morrison was. But nobody knew I was his wife. More sadly, when I was tortured by criminals, he was sleeping with another woman...<br /> <br /> Open the app and continue reading the rest of the story . ๐<br /> (It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app)<br /> <br /> ๐Due to FB has a limit on the amount of text, Pls Download Goodnovel to read Full version ๐ | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889372 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188511 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889374 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188511 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889376 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188512 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889380 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889386 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889389 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889390 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889392 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 8382108738483657 | 5 | 1.4263433414025E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210266080380342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718538516 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448406077_764306968927296_6464272251708451023_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eLzPGJEWKkwQ7kNvgGR33s5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCCilzNa0425GGpMGT-F6fDUOyfvlEl5yHlv3X01L0T3g&oe=667E7F0A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448390275_454169620900099_7267988560455346634_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YAEZT4f1tpAQ7kNvgE_OLSt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDKGr5R25ZdnsKTDxO7s8bVz0Biqg2uCH9KKdy3rUkYvw&oe=667E7337 | 0 | 3 | ๐Everyone in Norvania knew who Nathan Morrison was. But nobody knew I was his wife. More sadly, when I was tortured by criminals, he was sleeping with another woman...<br /> <br /> Open the app and continue reading the rest of the story . ๐<br /> (It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app)<br /> <br /> ๐Due to FB has a limit on the amount of text, Pls Download Goodnovel to read Full version ๐ | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889401 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889405 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889409 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889411 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 428903313450324 | 1 | 1.0282985520448E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120212634477020002 | ocankn.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719058988 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448909230_1526277447979694_106759173716401248_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=aOdF4D05y4MQ7kNvgFDxThq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC0QnNkGjvhRWDI99tXaVJkCG1Nyl3YUo4nEeTrlyGc7g&oe=667E967D | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448850710_1050973446627323_2212461109282422285_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=15_Ppo4GG9AQ7kNvgHod9f8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAva_hb1Lc0VMSGp6BhB7qLqNwOe0Um_mcPGyFmwaBjkw&oe=667E9DC7 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly.<br /> I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now.<br /> I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly.<br /> But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!"<br /> I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded.<br /> Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future.<br /> Felix wasn't done yet.<br /> "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house.<br /> His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment.<br /> The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain.<br /> 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years.<br /> He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation.<br /> He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ <br /> My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched.<br /> Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief.<br /> Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?"<br /> The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall.<br /> Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls.<br /> Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?"<br /> Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat.<br /> I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor.<br /> Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased!<br /> I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity!<br /> If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change!<br /> "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix."<br /> I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue.<br /> I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself -<br /> I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889417 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889421 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889423 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889425 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889427 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889429 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889431 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889433 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889435 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188516 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889437 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188516 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889439 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188517 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889441 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188517 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889443 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188518 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889445 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188518 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889447 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188519 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889449 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188520 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889451 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188520 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889453 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889457 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889461 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889462 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889464 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188522 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889465 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188523 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889467 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188524 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889469 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188524 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889471 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188525 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889472 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188525 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889474 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188526 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889476 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188526 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889478 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188527 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889480 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188527 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889482 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188528 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889483 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188528 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889485 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188529 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889487 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188529 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889489 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188529 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889491 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889493 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889494 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889495 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889498 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889499 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889502 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188531 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889503 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188531 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889505 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188531 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889507 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188532 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889509 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188532 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889511 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188533 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889512 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188533 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889515 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188533 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889517 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889519 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889522 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889523 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1192109398592306 | 1 | 4.0292955941254E+14 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212168974220747 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11845&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717848761 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447489360_1570538763510112_7450994158117535812_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PtQk_K4TR-UQ7kNvgFwxRGn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDAk2SX5ZXVijpeWSzG3xLE0EXojAjvnGA4j5GhlExR5A&oe=667E8E4C | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447282104_397151349972868_7799700873941453060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tN_HM-iYUoQ7kNvgEBxrPO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCH8HnZAVgJ1fPCSs2ERV0G-iU8ej_rpAakhBl92YXKkQ&oe=667E9C02 | 0 | 3 | Lexi could sense the man was staring at her swollen right cheek. It didn't seem like he would take his eyes off her anytime. "I know I'm so pretty that people can't help but gawk at me." Claude's lips curved up. "You look very familiar." Lexi's eyes remained on the climbing numbers on the elevator's digital display. "That's a tacky way to hit on someone." "I've never needed to hit on anyone." Claude flashed a reticent smile. "I'm only stating the truth. There was a laziness and silkiness to his voice. Lexi looked ahead at the elevator's mirrored walls and took in Claude, who stood to her left. She didn't recall ever interacting with him, much less meeting him. To her surprise, Claude suddenly approached her. His intimidating presence overwhelmed her so much that she took a few steps back. "Can I help you?" she questioned with a stiff voice. Lexi held her breath. They were so close to each other that she could smell the faint pine scent from his body. "Do you really not recognize me?" Claude asked. "I don't." Claude straightened his back and peered down at her. When the elevator door opened on the tenth floor, he stepped aside. Doubt gnawed at her heart. She could have sworn she didn't know the man, but why did he seem to know her? โฆ That night, Lexi had a dream. She dreamt of the night from two months ago. The wild night left her all sweaty. Zachary held her waist and tried out several positions with her. It left Lexi limp with barely any energy left. Not to mention, she was so drunk that she was in a daze. When Lexi woke, she massaged her forehead. The dream she had turned out to be a tad frightening. The man she slept with two months ago was Zachary. Yet, for some reason, he got replaced by the man from the elevator in her dream. | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717916400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889525 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1192109398592306 | 1 | 4.0292955941254E+14 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212168974220747 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11845&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717848761 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447489360_1570538763510112_7450994158117535812_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PtQk_K4TR-UQ7kNvgFwxRGn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDAk2SX5ZXVijpeWSzG3xLE0EXojAjvnGA4j5GhlExR5A&oe=667E8E4C | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447282104_397151349972868_7799700873941453060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tN_HM-iYUoQ7kNvgEBxrPO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCH8HnZAVgJ1fPCSs2ERV0G-iU8ej_rpAakhBl92YXKkQ&oe=667E9C02 | 0 | 3 | Lexi could sense the man was staring at her swollen right cheek. It didn't seem like he would take his eyes off her anytime. "I know I'm so pretty that people can't help but gawk at me." Claude's lips curved up. "You look very familiar." Lexi's eyes remained on the climbing numbers on the elevator's digital display. "That's a tacky way to hit on someone." "I've never needed to hit on anyone." Claude flashed a reticent smile. "I'm only stating the truth. There was a laziness and silkiness to his voice. Lexi looked ahead at the elevator's mirrored walls and took in Claude, who stood to her left. She didn't recall ever interacting with him, much less meeting him. To her surprise, Claude suddenly approached her. His intimidating presence overwhelmed her so much that she took a few steps back. "Can I help you?" she questioned with a stiff voice. Lexi held her breath. They were so close to each other that she could smell the faint pine scent from his body. "Do you really not recognize me?" Claude asked. "I don't." Claude straightened his back and peered down at her. When the elevator door opened on the tenth floor, he stepped aside. Doubt gnawed at her heart. She could have sworn she didn't know the man, but why did he seem to know her? โฆ That night, Lexi had a dream. She dreamt of the night from two months ago. The wild night left her all sweaty. Zachary held her waist and tried out several positions with her. It left Lexi limp with barely any energy left. Not to mention, she was so drunk that she was in a daze. When Lexi woke, she massaged her forehead. The dream she had turned out to be a tad frightening. The man she slept with two months ago was Zachary. Yet, for some reason, he got replaced by the man from the elevator in her dream. | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717916400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889527 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1192109398592306 | 1 | 4.0292955941254E+14 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212168974220747 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11845&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717848761 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447489360_1570538763510112_7450994158117535812_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PtQk_K4TR-UQ7kNvgFwxRGn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDAk2SX5ZXVijpeWSzG3xLE0EXojAjvnGA4j5GhlExR5A&oe=667E8E4C | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447282104_397151349972868_7799700873941453060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tN_HM-iYUoQ7kNvgEBxrPO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCH8HnZAVgJ1fPCSs2ERV0G-iU8ej_rpAakhBl92YXKkQ&oe=667E9C02 | 0 | 3 | Lexi could sense the man was staring at her swollen right cheek. It didn't seem like he would take his eyes off her anytime. "I know I'm so pretty that people can't help but gawk at me." Claude's lips curved up. "You look very familiar." Lexi's eyes remained on the climbing numbers on the elevator's digital display. "That's a tacky way to hit on someone." "I've never needed to hit on anyone." Claude flashed a reticent smile. "I'm only stating the truth. There was a laziness and silkiness to his voice. Lexi looked ahead at the elevator's mirrored walls and took in Claude, who stood to her left. She didn't recall ever interacting with him, much less meeting him. To her surprise, Claude suddenly approached her. His intimidating presence overwhelmed her so much that she took a few steps back. "Can I help you?" she questioned with a stiff voice. Lexi held her breath. They were so close to each other that she could smell the faint pine scent from his body. "Do you really not recognize me?" Claude asked. "I don't." Claude straightened his back and peered down at her. When the elevator door opened on the tenth floor, he stepped aside. Doubt gnawed at her heart. She could have sworn she didn't know the man, but why did he seem to know her? โฆ That night, Lexi had a dream. She dreamt of the night from two months ago. The wild night left her all sweaty. Zachary held her waist and tried out several positions with her. It left Lexi limp with barely any energy left. Not to mention, she was so drunk that she was in a daze. When Lexi woke, she massaged her forehead. The dream she had turned out to be a tad frightening. The man she slept with two months ago was Zachary. Yet, for some reason, he got replaced by the man from the elevator in her dream. | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717916400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889531 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889534 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889535 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889538 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889539 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889541 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889543 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889545 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889547 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889549 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889551 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889555 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889559 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1687081411831650 | 7 | 1.0777107900007E+15 | 1714892400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 108401345691237 | 0 | JoyReels | 120207768284090738 | play.google.com | Watch more | NONE | video | ๐นThis series is so incredible! I can't stop watching! Next episode is amazing! | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joyreels.video | 1714468439 | 1.0840134569124E+14 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440403555_1634058157338919_9031291769942722988_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qNUgQu1PMr4Q7kNvgF3Hj-M&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDKqyfgAV9mx6UgiYgXZIQCIGk5nq_uuY6674m1vFutaw&oe=667E989B | person_profile | 0 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440466030_2282054168654469_2910559909362688042_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XUSfi6woUx8Q7kNvgHc1j-w&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYApkJ3sp-hGQVU6zfEDVjaS_MjSYcdieb2h2WmGbYrwww&oe=667E830A | 0 | 3 | ๐๐After humiliated by his bride-to-be on the wedding rehearsal but Adam was soon told his true identity as the heir of the richest family in the US. On the journey of returning as a CEO, taking over his familyโs business, our true heir gradually finds out his true love, who has been by his side from the very beginningโฆ | JoyReels | 2599 | https://facebook.com/JoyReels02 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1714806000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889560 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188536 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 473895665007351 | 1 | 1.6823405192628E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210831282940694 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12010&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718449152 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448474492_477425897990902_5859099645181633260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=94KsICieoIIQ7kNvgHj8G9C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGxauaLE26bV8qKOejW0NELv3ujOlRSwZ0jeaP4Wihug&oe=667E8790 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448291144_1520610988804465_6910910276593027007_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r_ZPDlRpsM0Q7kNvgEqRCpn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK5cQdMZukDF7-6GST0kZTuh9Gey6MDFQ_Ty2tHS-8TA&oe=667EA428 | 0 | 3 | I know an Omega and an alpha became best friends, which is weird. Especially, he still comes to visit my bed every morning. "Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." 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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." 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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12010&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718449152 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448474492_477425897990902_5859099645181633260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=94KsICieoIIQ7kNvgHj8G9C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGxauaLE26bV8qKOejW0NELv3ujOlRSwZ0jeaP4Wihug&oe=667E8790 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448291144_1520610988804465_6910910276593027007_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r_ZPDlRpsM0Q7kNvgEqRCpn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK5cQdMZukDF7-6GST0kZTuh9Gey6MDFQ_Ty2tHS-8TA&oe=667EA428 | 0 | 3 | I know an Omega and an alpha became best friends, which is weird. Especially, he still comes to visit my bed every morning. "Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889591 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188540 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 400334022830841 | 175 | 8.6820382531992E+14 | 1717916400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 108401345691237 | 0 | JoyReels | 120206471638060590 | play.google.com | Watch more | NONE | video | Watch the whole series NOW! | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joyreels.video | 1714048904 | 1.0840134569124E+14 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438725622_3353819338253931_3291281500528851549_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fnM0FppFCD4Q7kNvgGfTvC2&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDQffKbWP7v_owrfLB5pbTezQtG-rHFkO92IfuWNtq70g&oe=667E869C | person_profile | 0 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438741466_1465480227412097_3694157891414847844_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6bOjkpRnqfQQ7kNvgEa81ed&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCk4QDbyxWIL3jnP-GwTC4iByj7ehYE7Lc8gll83uHifA&oe=667E75FA | 0 | 3 | After humiliated by his bride-to-be on the wedding rehearsal but Adam was soon told his true identity as the heir of the richest family in the US. On the journey of returning as a CEO, taking over his familyโs business, our true heir gradually finds out his true love, who has been by his side from the very beginningโฆ | JoyReels | 2599 | https://facebook.com/JoyReels02 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1714201200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889592 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188540 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. I am never going back to that sad reality. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716534000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889594 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188541 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. 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I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. 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| 1889597 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188542 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. 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| 1889599 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188543 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. I am never going back to that sad reality. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716534000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889606 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188544 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889607 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188544 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889608 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188544 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889609 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188545 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889610 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188545 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889611 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188545 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889612 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188546 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889613 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188546 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889614 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188546 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1361528064521212 | 1 | 7.4287710132688E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208075188720056 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11230&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717941362 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/422079631_823590829824839_4719608256142825580_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-c_wsypPPawQ7kNvgH2Xs9U&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCgANmfXVIN_VIISdowmcXVAX41WPVg3Um6pQKtVBXKFw&oe=667EA886 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441057328_1702104656985535_4588455529970348064_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=dV8-upa7GNMQ7kNvgFIOZeQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAHHyNk9qv3lECsxIxaDLVf0QQ7H8CX-OVP_x68pg8cuw&oe=667EA40A | 0 | 3 | Yvette Snyder stood at the entrance of the hospital, her body frail, clutching a report in her thin hands. Three words on the report stood out: "No conception detected". "You've been married for three years. How are you not conceived?" Her mother, Yara Cadwell, demanded, jabbing a finger in Yvette's face disappointedly. Yara was dressed lavishly and wore high heels. "Why are you so useless? If you don't get conceived soon, the Lanes are going to kick you out of the family. What's going to happen to our family then?" Yvette looked at Yara blankly. She had a lot to say, but the words were stuck in her throat. In the end, all she could manage was, "I'm sorry." "I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to give birth to Xavier's child. Do you understand me?" Yvette's throat felt tight; she didn't know how to answer Yara. In their three years of marriage, her husband, Xavier Lane, had never slept with her. How could she ever have his child? Yara stared at Yvette. The latter's weak demeanor was so unlike her own. Finally, she said coldly before leaving, "If you really can't give him a child, then find him a woman who can. At least he'll appreciate you for that." Yvette stared after Yara's retreating figure in disbelief. Had her own mother just told her to find another woman for her husband to sleep with? ... As Yvette made her journey home, she couldn't stop thinking about Yara's parting words. Suddenly, a loud ringing in her ear drowned out her thoughts. She knew that her condition had worsened. Just then, she received a message on her phone. It was from Xavier, and the content was the same as always. "I'm not coming home tonight." In the past three years they had been married, Xavier had never spent the night at home before. He had never so much as touched Yvette either. Yvette could remember their wedding night three years ago. He had told her, "Since your family is bold enough to trick me into marrying you, you'd better be prepared to spend the rest of your life in loneliness." Three years ago, the Snyder and Lane families had decided to form an alliance through marriage. Both families had agreed to mutually beneficial terms in the agreement. But when the day of the wedding came around, the Snyder family went back on their word and transferred all of their assets away, including the billions that Xavier had paid to marry Yvette. Yvette's eyes dulled at the memory. She replied to Xavier's text with her usual response: "Okay." Without her realizing it, the report she was holding got scrunched up in her hands. When she got home, Yvette tossed the report into the trash can. Every month, around this time, she would feel unusually lethargic. Yvette didn't prepare dinner for herself. She just leaned back on the couch, blearily drifting in and out of sleep. The rumbling in her ear persisted. That was another reason why Xavier hated herโshe was hard of hearing, which, to the rich and powerful, was no better than being crippled. Xavier would never allow her to carry his child. โฆ At 5 o'clock in the morning, the pendulum clock on the wall chimed dully. Xavier would be home in an hour. Yvette realized too late that she had fallen asleep on the couch. She got up hastily and went to the kitchen to prepare Xavier's breakfast. Xavier was a meticulous man who was strict about punctuality, not only with himself but also with the people around him. He arrived home at six o'clock sharp. Xavier was a tall and handsome man. Clad in a smart tailored suit, his demeanor was quiet and reserved, yet undoubtedly masculine. However, to Yvette, he was cold and distant. Xavier didn't even look at Yvette. He walked right past her to look at the food on the table and said with a scoff, "You do this every day. Are you a nanny or what?" Over the past three years, Yvette had been doing the same things over and over again. She wore the same dark clothes and replied to his messages with the same singular word. If it hadn't been for the business alliance and the Snyders' deceit, Xavier would never have married a woman like Yvette. At the word "nanny", the rumbling in Yvette's ears returned. She swallowed, feeling a lump in her throat, and said bravely, "Xav, do you have someone that you like?" Her sudden question surprised Xavier. His eyes darkened. "What do you mean by that?" Yvette raised her head and stared at him, swallowing the bile rising in the back of her throat. "If you love someone else, you can be with herโ" Before she could finish, Xavier interrupted her. "You're mad." ... After Xavier left, Yvette sat on the balcony alone, staring out into the cold rain. The sound of the raindrops drifted in and out of clarity. She took off her hearing aids, letting the world around her fall into silence. A month ago, her doctor had told her, "Ms. Snyder, there's been a pathological change in your auditory nerves and some of your cranial nerves, causing your hearing to worsen. If this goes on, you may lose your hearing completely." Not used to a silent world, Yvette went to the living room and turned on the television. She turned up the volume to the max, which allowed her to hear some sound. By coincidence, the television was showing an interview with Daphne Reyes, an internationally renowned singer known for her love songs. Yvette's hands trembled slightly as she gripped the remote control. Daphne was Xavier's first love. It had been a long time since Yvette had seen her, but Daphne was still as pretty as ever. She was confident and relaxed in front of the cameras, unlike the shy and frightened young woman who had begged the Snyders for sponsorship in the past. When the interviewer asked Daphne why she had returned to her home country, her answer was bold. "I came home to get my first love back." The remote control slipped out of Yvette's hands. Her heart also fell to her stomach. Flustered, Yvette turned off the television and went to the table to clean up the uneaten breakfast. When she got to the kitchen, she found that Xavier had forgotten to take his phone. She picked it up and saw the unread messages on the lock screen. "Xav, you must have been unhappy over the past few years, right?" "I know you don't love her. How about we meet up tonight? I've missed you." Yvette stared blankly at the messages until the screen went dark again. Then, she called a cab to Xavier's office. On the way, she stared out of the window. The rain fell incessantly. It felt like it would never stop. Xavier never liked it when Yvette visited him at his office, so whenever she was there, she would take the service elevator from the loading bay. When Xavier's assistant, Mark Xyrax, saw her, he just greeted her impassively, "Ms. Snyder." No one around Xavier considered Yvette his wife. She was nothing but a smear on his reputation. When Xavier saw Yvette bringing him his phone, he frowned. She was always like this. No matter what he forgot, be it his lunch, his documents, a shirt, or even an umbrella, she would bring them to him. "I thought I told you that you didn't need to deliver my things to me yourself." Yvette froze. "Sorry, I forgot." Since when had her memory been so bad? Maybe she had panicked after seeing Daphne's message and became afraid that Xavier would disappear from her life suddenly. Before she left, she looked back at Xavier. Unable to help herself, she blurted out, "Xav, do you still like Daphne?" Xavier thought that Yvette had been behaving rather strangely lately. She kept forgetting things and asking weird questions. How could a person like her be his wife? Impatiently, he replied, "If you have so much free time, go find yourself something to do." Yvette had tried getting a job before, but Xavier's mother, Shannon Guetta, had reprimanded her without holding back. "Do you want the whole world to know that Xav married a disabled woman with hearing issues?" Therefore, Yvette had given up on finding a job and focused on her fruitless life as "Mrs. Lane" at Dewberry Estate. โฆ At home, she sat alone until nightfall. She couldn't sleep. Just then, the phone on her bedside table rang loudly. It was a call from an unfamiliar number. Yvette picked up the call. A familiar voice, yet one she dreaded, sounded from the other end. "Is this Yvvy? Xav is drunk. Can you come pick him up?" When Yvette arrived at Sternhow Club, she heard loud coaxing and jeering from the wealthy heirs inside the private room. "Daph, didn't you say you came back to get our dear Mr. Lane back into your arms? This is your chance now. Go on, tell him how you feel!" Daphne was a pretty woman who was popular wherever she went. She was also Xavier's first love, so the rich young men of the upper crust were happy to push the two together. Daphne wasn't shy at all. She turned to Xavier and said without any reservations, "I like you, Xav. Please be with me again." That was what Yvette heard when she arrived at the door of the private room. Inside, the other people were urging Xavier to answer Daphne. His best friend, Tristan Shaw, was the most vocal among them. "Xav, you've been waiting for Daphne for three years. She's back now. So, go on, answer her!" Yvette stood frozen outside the door. Her heart was pounding. Just then, one of the men pulled the door open. "Ms. Snyder?" Chapter 2 Everyone in the private room looked over at the door. For a moment, the room was eerily silent. Yvette immediately caught sight of Xavier in the middle of the room. His eyes were clear and bright. He was clearly not drunk. She knew that she had been tricked by Daphne. When Xavier saw Yvette, his pupils constricted. Everyone else in the room looked awkward, including Tristan, who had been the most vocal in getting Xavier to accept Daphne's confession earlier. Yvette shouldn't have gone there. Daphne was the first to break the silence. "Please don't get the wrong idea, Yvvy. Tristan was joking. Xavier and I are just friends." Before Yvette could answer, Xavier stood up impatiently. "There's no need to explain it to her." Then, he stalked over to Yvette. "What are you doing here?" "I thought you were drunk, so I came to take you home," Yvette answered truthfully. Xavier scoffed. "You really didn't retain anything I told you, did you?" Lowering his voice, he said softly so that only she could hear him, "Are you here to remind everyone that I was tricked into marrying you three years ago? Did you think they forgot?" Yvette was stunned. Xavier gave her a cold look. "Stop seeking attention. You're only making me hate you more." With that, he turned away, leaving Yvette standing alone. Yvette stared after his retreating figure, unable to snap out of her shock. None of the other scions in the room took pity on her when they saw Xavier ignoring her. Tristan even had no qualms in telling Daphne, who was feigning distress, "You're too kind, Daphne. You didn't need to explain anything. "If Yvette hadn't scammed Xav, he would've married you in the first place. You wouldn't have needed to suffer abroad as well." Despite the constant ringing in her ears, Yvette could still hear every word clearly. She knew better than anyone that even if Xavier hadn't married her, he wouldn't have married Daphne. Daphne was a nobody with no background, after all. Daphne was well aware of this as well. That was why she had chosen to break up with Xavier and leave the country. How had everything turned out to be Yvette's fault? When Yvette left Sternhow Club with her umbrella, she felt as if she had been enveloped by darkness. Just then, a lithe figure appeared beside her. It was Daphne. She was decked out in fine clothes, complete with high heels. She looked smug. "It's a cold night, isn't it? So, how does it feel to get scoffed at by Xavier after you came all the way here at this time to get him?" Yvette didn't answer her, but Daphne didn't mind her silence. She just continued speaking. "I do pity you, you know. You've never experienced true love before, have you? "Do you know that when I was with Xav, he would cook for me himself? When I was sick, he would drop everything and stay with me. "Has Xav ever told you he loves you? He used to say that to me all the timeโฆ" Yvette listened to Daphne's rambling quietly, her mind going over the past three years she had been married to Xavier. He had never so much as stepped into the kitchen during that time. When she had gotten sick, he had never comforted her. He had never told her he loved her either. โฆ That night, Yvette couldn't fall asleep. She had only just found out that the man she had loved for the past 12 years had once loved another with all his heart, in the spectacular way that only young people could. At that moment, she realized that it was time for her to give him up. She had a sleepless night. The next morning, Xavier returned home. The glare he gave her was cold. "How attached are you to the Lane family's money, to me, your money-making robot?" he demanded. Yvette was stunned. She didn't know what had gotten into him so early in the morning. Instinctively, she said, "I never wanted your money." She had only ever wanted Xavier. Xavier laughed in disdain. "Then, why did your mother come to my office and beg me to give you a child?" Yvette was stunned. She stared into Xavier's eyes. It was only then that she realized that he wasn't angry about what had happened last night. Xavier had no desire to waste his breath on her. "If you want to continue staying with me and keep your family afloat, tell your mother to behave herself!" ... In the end, Yvette didn't need to look for Yara. Yara found Yvette instead. She was no longer cold and distant; she gripped Yvette's hands and said gently, "Yvvy, you should ask Xavier to give you a child. He doesn't have to do it biologically. He could do it through scientific measures." Scientific measures. Yvette stared at Yara in shock as the latter continued, "Daphne told me that Xavier hasn't slept with you in the past three years." That was the last straw for Yvette. She didn't know why Xavier would tell Daphne about that. Maybe he really loved Daphne a lot. With that thought, she suddenly felt relieved. "Just let it go, Mom." Yara paused. She frowned. "What?" "I'm tired. I want to get a divorceโ" Before she could finish, Yara slapped her hard across the face. The kind, motherly facade was gone in an instant. She jabbed a finger at Yvette and gritted out, "You have no right to ask for a divorce! "Without the Lane family, what do you think you're going to do? Who's going to remarry a disabled divorcee like you?" Yvette felt her body go numb. Yara had never liked Yvette, even when the latter had been a child. Yara had been a famous dancer. The fact that she had given birth to a daughter with hearing issues was one of her biggest regrets. Therefore, she had sent Yvette away to be taken care of by a nanny. She had only allowed Yvette to return home when the latter started school. People used to tell Yvette that every mother loved their child. So, she had done everything she could to excel at everything in hopes of making Yara happy. Despite her hearing issues, she had been at the top of her class in dance, music, and art classes. But no matter how hard she tried, Yara still didn't consider her a good daughter. In Yara's words, Yvette wasn't "complete". Not only physically, but also in love and familial relationships. After Yara left, Yvette used some makeup to cover up the red print on her face. Then, she packed her bags quietly. Even after three years of married life, all her personal belongings fit into a single suitcase. After she finished packing up, she gathered her courage and sent Xavier a message. "Are you free tonight? I need to talk to you." Xavier didn't reply to her. Yvette's eyes darkened. She knew that he didn't want to reply to her messages. All she could do was wait for him to come home in the morning. She had thought that he wouldn't come home that night, but he got back at midnight. Yvette wasn't asleep at the time. She went up to him and took his coat and bag from him with familiarity in her actions. It was as if they were a normal married couple. Xavier's cold voice broke the peace. "Don't send me inane texts again." As Yvette held Xavier's coat, her hand trembled slightly. "I won't do it again," she mumbled. Xavier didn't notice anything wrong with her tone. He went straight to his study. Generally, if he came home, he would stay holed up in his study. He probably thought that someone who was hard of hearing would live in a silent world. Either that, or he simply didn't care about Yvette. That would explain why he got straight to discussing his acquisition of Snyder Group in his study as if nothing was wrong. When Yvette brought him some soup, she heard Xavier animatedly discussing work with his employees. He was talking about the acquisition of Snyder Group, her father, James Snyder's company. She didn't know how to feel about that. She knew that her brother, Terrence Synder, was useless at running a business, so it was only a matter of time before Snyder Group fell. However, she had never thought that her own husband would be the first to cause Snyder Group's downfall. "Xav," she interrupted. Xavier was slightly startled. Out of guilt, or maybe some other emotion, he quickly hung up the phone and closed his laptop. Feigning ignorance, Yvette walked into the study and placed the bowl in front of him. "Have some soup, then get to bed soon. Your health is more important than work." For some reason, Xavier felt himself relax when he heard her soft voice. She probably hadn't heard anything. Feeling conflicted, he stopped Yvette before she could leave. "You said you wanted to talk to me. What is it?" Hearing this, Yvette turned back to look at him. Softly, she said, "I just wanted to ask if you're free in the morning so we can go and file for divorce." Chapter 3 Yvette's voice was calm and impassive, as though divorce were a menial matter to her. Xavier's pupils contracted. "What did you just say?" Over the last three years, no matter what he had done, Yvette had never brought up divorce. In truth, Xavier knew that Yvette loved him. Her eyes, which were usually dull and empty, were clear and bright now. "I'm sorry for being a burden over the last few years, Mr. Lane. We should get divorced." Xavier clenched his fists unconsciously. "You heard what I said earlier, didn't you? Snyder Group was already failing; it won't matter whether I buy it or someone else does. What are you trying to do by bringing up divorce? "Is it because you want money? Or a child? Or do you want me to leave Snyder Group alone?" he asked coldly. "Don't forget that I don't love you. Your threats won't work on me!" At that moment, he seemed like a stranger to Yvette. A lump formed in her throat as her ears began throbbing. Even though she was wearing her hearing aids, she could barely hear what Xavier was saying. She could only answer his last question. "I don't want anything." Afraid that he would notice something wrong with her, Yvette left the study in a hurry. As he watched her leave, Xavier felt frustrated for some reason. He had never felt like this before. Not one to hold in his emotions, he flipped the table over. The bowl of soup that Yvette had brought him spilled all over the ground. ... Back in her own room, Yvette forced herself to swallow a handful of pills. She reached up to touch her ear. As she retracted her fingers, she saw crimson blood on them. Thanks to the medicine, her hearing recovered a little by the time it was dawn. Yvette stared blankly at the soft rays of sunlight streaming from the window. "The rain has stopped," she said quietly to herself. Xavier didn't leave the manor that day. He was in the living room bright and early, settled on the couch, waiting for Yvette to apologize and express her regret to him. This wasn't the first time Yvette had lost her temper with him. However, after every tantrum, she would apologize to him before long. Xavier figured that it would be the same this time around. Soon, he saw Yvette coming out of her room, all freshened up. She wore her usual dark-colored clothes. She dragged a suitcase with one hand while holding a piece of paper in the other. She handed the paper to him. It was a divorce agreement. "Let me know when you have time, Xav." With that, she left the manor, pulling her suitcase behind her. It was bright and sunny outside. Yvette felt as if she had gotten a new chance at life. Meanwhile, Xavier sat frozen on the couch, still clutching the divorce agreement in his hand. It took him a long time to come back to his senses. It was Saturday. Usually, around this time of the year, Xavier would take Yvette back to his hometown to pay respects to his ancestors. During this time, they would have to endure strange looks from his extended family. However, he was alone that day, which made him extraordinarily happy. At Lane Mansion, Shannon and the rest of the Lanes were surprised to see him alone. In the past, Yvette had always been the first one to turn up every year and the last to leave since she had been trying to please everyone. Why wasn't she there today? Shanon frowned and asked Xavier, "Where's Yvette, Xav?" Xavier's expression turned cold. "She wanted a divorce and left me." Everyone fell silent in disbelief when he said that. Shannon was shocked. She knew that Yvette probably loved Xavier more than anything in the world, only surpassed by his own parents. Seven years ago, Yvette had even protected Xavier with her own body when someone had attempted to stab him. Four years ago, not long after the two had gotten engaged, something had happened to Xavier while he had been on a business trip in Dibay. Everyone had been convinced that he was dead, but Yvette had refused to believe that. She had dropped everything and gone to the foreign city just to look for him. Then, after they had gotten married, Yvette had taken care of almost everything in his life with meticulous precision, including being polite to everyone around him, even his secretaries. She had always been afraid of offending them. Yvette clearly couldn't live without Xavier. So, why had she suggested getting a divorce? Shannon had no idea, but she was glad that Yvette had finally decided to let Xavier go. "She's not worthy to be your wife anyway. It's a good thing that you're divorcing her. She doesn't deserve you," she said The others immediately chimed in. "Yeah, you're young and handsome, Xav. You're in your best years now. Yvette's been dragging you down all this time!" Instantly, the gathering turned into a slander fest. They spoke of Yvette as if she were an unforgivable criminal. Xavier should have felt happy that they were defending him, but for some reason, he found their words too sharp and crass. He left Lane Mansion earlier than usual and made his way back to Dewberry Estate. The sky was just starting to darken when he arrived home. He opened the door and entered the manor. When he saw nothing but darkness, he remembered, with a start, that Yvette had left. He changed into his house slippers and tossed his coat into the washer. For some reason, he felt unusually exhausted today. He went to the wine cellar to get a bottle of wine so that he could celebrate Yvette's leaving. However, when he got to the wine cellar and saw the locked door, he realized too late that he didn't have the key. He didn't like strangers in his house, so there were no maids or servants at Dewberry Estate. Ever since he had married Yvette, she had been the one taking care of the household affairs. He could only go back to his room. Picking up his phone, he scrolled through his messages only to find work-related texts. Yvette hadn't called or texted him to apologize at all. Tossing his phone aside, he got up and headed over to the kitchen. When he opened the door of the fridge, he was stunned. Apart from food, there were also a lot of supplements. He picked one of the bags up and read the instructions on it. "Take five times a day for incapable of conceived." He took a whiff of the supplement. It smelled disgusting. He recalled that Yvette always smelled strange. So, this was why. He scoffed silently. They had never slept, so no matter how much medicine she took, she would never have gotten conceived. ... Meanwhile, over in a dark and dinky hotel, Yvette opened her eyes blearily. Her head was pounding. The world was silent. She knew, then, that her condition had worsened again. Before this, she had still been able to hear some sounds, even without her hearing aids. She pushed herself up and felt around on the bedside table until she found her medicine. She popped the pills in her mouth, tasting their bitterness. The day before, she had left Dewberry Estate, which had been her home for the past three years. At first, she had gone to her parents' house, Snyder Residence. However, at the door, she had overheard Yara and Terrence discussing how they would marry her off to an old man if the Lanes kicked her out. Yvette had blanked upon hearing that. It was then that she finally realized that she had no place to call home anymore. Even though she hadn't eaten anything in two days, she still didn't feel hungry. However, it was too quiet. The silence scared her. It had been raining more frequently in Tirion this year than it had in previous years. Yvette stared out at the passing pedestrians. Most of them were paired up or in groups. She was the only one alone. She bought a bus ticket heading out of the city. She decided to go to her nanny's house in the countryside. Viola Xenos, her nanny, had taken care of her when she was a child. It was already 9:00 pm when Yvette got there. When Viola saw Yvette, she looked pleasantly surprised. Yvette teared up when she saw Viola's warm smile. She reached out to her and hugged her. "Viola." Due to health issues, Viola had never married and didn't have children of her own. Yvette was closer to her than she was to her own mother. That night, Yvette cuddled up in Viola's embrace, just like she had when she was a child. Viola wrapped her arms around Yvette, only to realize that the latter was very thin. She pressed a hand on the Yvette's bony back, trembling uncontrollably. Forcing herself to calm down, she asked cautiously, "Has Xavier been treating you well, Yvvy?" Yvette felt a sharp pain in her throat when she heard Xavier's name. She wanted to lie to Viola and tell her that Xavier had treated her well, but she knew that Viola wasn't silly. Since she had already made up her mind to leave him, there was no need to lie to herself or to the people who loved her any longer. "The person he loves has returned. I've decided to let him go and divorce him." Viola was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears. Yvette had told her multiple times before that she wanted to spend the rest of her life with Xavier. Not knowing what else to say, she comforted Yvette by telling her that there were plenty of other fish in the sea. There was bound to be one who would love her. Yvette just nodded silently. The buzzing in her ears drowned out Viola's comforting voice. That night, she managed to get a good night's sleep, which was rare. However, when she woke up, she was greeted with the alarming sight of blood staining the spot where her head had laid on the pillow. Yvette touched her right ear. Her fingers felt sticky. She looked at her hand. It was covered in blood. Chapter 4 Even Yvette's hearing aids were stained red. Her pupils contracted, and she quickly grabbed some tissues to wipe her ear. Then, she stripped the bedsheets and washed them. She was afraid that Viola would worry about her if she found out that her illness was worsening. So, she cleaned up the mess and found an excuse to bid goodbye to Viola. Before she left, she placed a part of her savings on the bedside table without telling Viola. Viola walked Yvette to the bus stop and waved goodbye reluctantly. โฆ After Yvette left, Viola couldn't stop thinking about how thin the former was. Unable to just sit by, she called Lane Group. When the secretary heard that Viola was Yvette's nanny and wanted to speak to Xavier, she transferred the call to Xavier's line. It was the third day after Yvette had left Xavier. It was also the first time in three days that he had received a call about her. Sitting behind his desk, he felt exceptionally pleased. Just as he had expected, Yvette wouldn't be able to last more than three days without himโor so he thought. Viola's voice came through the other line, sounding weighed with age. "Mr. Lane, I am Yvvy's nanny. I've been taking care of her since she was a baby. "Please, I beg you, treat her well. Don't hurt her more than you already have. She's not as strong as she seems on the surface. "When she was born, Mrs. Snyder left her in my care because she didn't like that Yvvy is hard of hearing. Yvvy only returned home when she had to start going to school. "The Snyders have never treated her as one of their own. Apart from Mr. Snyder, everyone else treated her like she was a maid. "You and Mr. Snyder are the most important people she has in this world. I'm begging you, please. Please be kind to her." Xavier's mood darkened when he heard what Viola said. "Did she tell you to give me this sob story because she didn't want to face me herself?" he asked coldly. "Why should I care about her life? If you ask me, she deserved everything she got!" That said, he hung up the phone without waiting for an answer. Viola had heard Yvette gushing about how nice Xavier was to her. So, it was only then that she realized the truthโXavier wasn't a good man at all. He wasn't a good husband to Yvette. ... Yvette sat on the bus, heading home. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Xavier. "You said you wanted to get divorced, right? I'll see you at 10:00 am tomorrow." Yvette stared at the text blankly for a while before replying, "Okay." Just one word. It infuriated Xavier and completely ruined his mood. Unable to work anymore, he called up his friends and invited them out for drinks. Daphne was also at the club when he arrived. "I'm not going home until I'm drunk!" she declared. Tristan sat down beside Xavier. He couldn't help asking curiously, "How's Deaf Yvvy?" Xavier raised an eyebrow at him. "There's no need to talk about her ever again. We're filing for divorce tomorrow." Tristan was stunned. He couldn't believe his ears. "Really?" Beside them, Daphne brightened. She poured out a shot for him. "Congrats on getting back your freedom, Xav!" Xavier drank a lot that night. Daphne offered to send him home, but he rejected her suggestion. "No need. It's not appropriate." If he and Yvette were going to get divorced tomorrow, she might come home that night. Daphne wasn't happy about the rejection. "Why? You're divorcing her anyway. Why wouldn't it be appropriate? Are you still scared that she might find out about our relationship?" Their relationship? Xavier narrowed his eyes. "You're overthinking this." He got into his own car. Out of consideration, he also called a cab to send Daphne home. On the drive home, he kept unlocking his phone to check if Yvette had sent him any messages. She hadn't. When he reached Dewberry Estate, it was dark. With a stormy expression, Xavier opened the door and turned on the light. Yvette was nowhere to be seen. She hadn't come home. The manor was left exactly the way it had been when she had left. Still feeling the effects of the wine, Xavier threw himself heavily onto the couch and soon fell asleep. In his nightmares, Yvette was covered in blood, but there was a smile on her face. "I don't love you anymore, Xav," she said. When Xavier jolted awake, the sky outside had just brightened up. He rubbed his forehead and went to the bathroom to freshen himself up. Then, he changed into a smart suit and made his way to the courthouse. At the entrance of the courthouse, he spotted Yvette standing under a tree not far off. As usual, she was dressed in dark-colored clothes. From the distance, she looked incredibly frail and thin as she stood amid the drizzle. It was as if a single gust of wind could knock her over. Xavier could still remember how young and lively she had been when they had first gotten married. She hadn't been as thin and gloomy back then. Holding an umbrella, he walked toward Yvette. It took her a few moments to notice him. Xiaver hadn't changed much over the last three years. He was as handsome and as confident as ever, with the added hint of matureness that came with age. Yvette was a little dazed. The last three years felt like a blink in time to her, yet she also seemed to have exhausted a whole lifetime. Xavier stalked over to Yvette and gazed at her coldly. He was waiting for her to apologize to him. She had been sulking enough. It was time to put an end to this. However, Yvette just said, "I'm sorry to pull you away from your work. Let's go in." Xavier stiffened, but he quickly recovered. "Don't regret this." With that, he turned and headed into the courthouse. Yvette stared after him sadly. Would she regret this? She didn't know either. In the courthouse, the judge asked them if they were sure about going through with the divorce. Yvette's answer was firm. "Yes." Her determined expression frustrated Xavier. After filing for divorce, they still had to return to the courthouse in a month. If they didn't show up, then the divorce would be considered null. As they left the courthouse, Yvette looked at Xavier, her expression unusually calm. "I'll see you next month. Take care." With that, she stepped out into the rain, hailed a cab, and left. Xavier was left standing on the spot. He didn't know how to feel as he watched her car leave. Relieved, probably. Relieved that he wouldn't need to put up with her any longer or endure others' ridicule for having a disabled wife. ... In the cab, Yvette leaned against the window and stared blankly at the rain droplets on the glass. In the rearview mirror, the driver suddenly saw blood dripping from her ear. He was shocked by the sight. "Miss? Miss!" Yvette didn't answer him. The driver hastily stopped the car. Yvette was confused. They weren't at her destination yet. Why had they stopped? She looked over at the driver and saw him mouthing silently. She realized that she had gone deaf again. "I'm sorry, I can't hear you. What are you saying?" In the end, the driver had to type out what he wanted to say on his phone so that he could tell her about her bleeding ear. Yvette reached out belatedly and felt the warm sensation in her ear. She was used to it now. "It's alright. This happens all the time. I'm fine." She was hard of hearing, but her ears hadn't bled like this before. Two years ago, at a gathering, Tristan had pushed her into a swimming pool. Yvette didn't know how to swim, so she had almost drowned. At the same time, her eardrums had also expanded due to the pressure. She had been sent to the hospital, but the damage had been done. At the time, she had been told that everything was fine. Why was this happening again? The cab driver was still worried, so he dropped her off at the hospital she told him. After thanking him, Yvette went into the hospital on her own. This time, she saw her usual doctor, Tom Jensen. "Dr. Jensen, my memory has been rather bad lately. I kept forgetting what I'm doing," she said. When she had woken up at the hotel that morning, it had taken her a long time to remember that she had to file for divorce with Xavier. Tom looked at her latest report worriedly. "Ms. Snyder, I think you should consider getting tested for other things. Specifically, mental health issues." Mental healthโฆ Following Tom's recommendation, Yvette went and got a psychiatric diagnosis. She was diagnosed with depression. It turned out that patients with severe depression often experienced memory loss. Before heading back to the hotel, Yvette stopped and bought a notebook and a pen. She wrote down everything that had happened lately. She placed the notebook right beside her bed so that it would be the first thing she saw when she woke up in the morning. News of her and Xavier's divorce spread quickly. That night, Yara called her multiple times, but she didn't hear anything. โฆ When she woke up the next morning, she saw a barrage of texts from Yara. "Where are you?" "Who do you think you are? Even if you're getting a divorce, Xavier should have been the one to ask for it!" "You're such a jinx! Back when you got married, your dad got into a car crash and died. What's going to happen now that you're getting divorced? Do you want Snyder Group to go bankrupt? Is that it?" Yvette stared at the messages. She was used to the verbal bully by now. She typed out a reply. "Mom, it's time that we live by our own merits. We shouldn't depend on others so much." Yara's response was swift. "You're such an ingrate! I shouldn't have given birth to you in the first place!" Yvette didn't bother replying to that. She placed her phone aside. She just had to wait a month. Once the divorce was finalized, she would be able to leave Tirion and start a new life. โฆ Yvette's health worsened over the next few days. She often found herself completely deaf. Sometimes, it took a very long time for her hearing to go back to normal. Her memory was deteriorating too. On the bright side, even though her hearing loss was incurable, at least she could do something about the depression. She tried everything she could to keep herself happy. She busied herself by registering as a volunteer online. She spent time taking care of abandoned old people and orphans. Helping them made her feel like she had a reason to continue living. A few days later, Yvette woke up in the morning and checked her notebook as usual. Then, she got ready to head out to the orphanage. When she picked up her phone, she saw several unread messages. There were messages from Terrance and Yara, as well as Daphne. She opened the texts one by one. Yara: "As you wished, Snyder Group is no more." Terrence: "Keep hiding. You're the most cowardly and cruel person I've ever seen." Daphne: "My condolences, Yvette. Actually, I think Snyder Group would thrive better under Xav." Daphne: "Since your family has helped me so much in the past, do let me know if you need anything. I'll help you if I can." Yvette had no idea what was happening. She closed the messaging app. Almost immediately, she got a notification about the latest news. Chapter 5 Yvette watched the news and saw the press conference held by Lane Group. It was an announcement that Xavier had successfully acquired Snyder Group. James' company no longer existed in the world. โฆ Things on Xavier's end had been extra pleasant lately. He had acquired Snyder Group and gotten his revenge. "The Snyder family finally got what they deserved for tricking you into that marriage three years ago." Tristan chuckled. Yet, he changed the topic in the next instant. He asked Xavier, "Xav, has Deaf Yvvy approached you during the past few days?" Xavier froze halfway through signing a document. He didn't know why, but people around him kept mentioning Yvette these days. "No," he replied coldly. That shocked Tristan. After all, how could Yvette not do anything when something this massive had happened to her family? With that in mind, he spoke again. "Could it be that she's finally come around? I heard her family has been looking everywhere for her. Nobody knows where she's goneโ" He kept blabbering on. Xavier frowned, feeling utterly annoyed. "Get out!" Tristan jolted. That was when he realized that Xavier was furious. Not daring to say another word, Tristan bolted out of the CEO's office. Once outside, he took his phone and called his assistant, Avery Fitzpatrick. "Have you found Yvette?" "Yes, she's in a small hotel in Hexim Pass," answered Avery. Tristan had Avery send him the location before he drove there. He refused to let Yvette off the hook so easily. So what if she was willing to divorce Xavier now? She had already prevented Xavier and Daphne from being together for over three years! Besides, Daphne had saved Tristan's life once, so he owed her. It rained outside. Yvette finished her volunteer work and picked up her medication from the hospital. Then, she held an umbrella while walking back to the hotel. There were very few people on the road. Tristan drove his car but kept his eyes on Yvette's slim back. He deliberately sped up as he drove past her, sending a puddle of rainwater splashing onto her. Yvette shot him a blank stare. Tristan happened to meet her emotionless gaze through his rearview mirror. He didn't know why, but he felt inexplicably nervous. Yvette recognized Tristan's luxurious, dark gray Bugatti. Yet, she retracted her gaze and pretended not to notice him. Even so, Tristan refused to stop there. He deliberately slowed his car and followed her. "Hey, Deaf Yvvy. So, you have a temper now, huh? "You're not even going to greet me now? Didn't you used to love greeting me? Didn't you enjoy tickling my fancy?" Yvette remained stoic while the former mocked her. She used to do everything to win over those around Xavier, including his friends. It was all because she liked him. She had figured that Xavier's family and friends would one day accept her. Alas, it seemed she had been too naรฏve. At the previous gathering, Tristan had declared that he was Daphne's friend. He couldn't care less about maintaining his gentlemanly, upper-class image when siding with Daphne. He had insulted Yvette and called her shameless. In the end, he had also thrown her into the pool, leaving her to die. Since then, Yvette had steered clear of him. Upon receiving no reaction or response from Yvette, Tristan stopped the car, opened the door, and strolled toward her. He grabbed her arm and asked, "What stunts are you planning to pull this time?" Yvette's arm hurt, so she looked up at him. "I don't know what you're saying." She wanted to pry his hand off her arm, but he flung her aside. "Don't touch me with your filthy hands!" Tristan bellowed. Yvette stumbled backward before falling to the ground with a loud thud. Tristan froze on the spot in slight disbelief. It baffled him to see Yvette resorting to such tricks. He had only pushed her with a slight force, so how could she fall like that? Seeing people looking their way, he nervously got back into his car. Still, he gave her a warning before driving away. "Don't mess with Daph just because you're a disabled person, Yvette! "She's different from you. It's taken her a lot of effort to get to where she is now, so you'd better not disrupt her and Xav's relationship again!" After driving away, he even told the Snyder family where Yvette was staying. Yvette's hands and knees were scraped when she fell. It hurt so much that she couldn't stand for a long time. Deep down, she didn't understand why Tristan was so blind to what was right and wrong. She recalled risking her life to rescue him from a car that had been about to explode four years ago. His face had been covered in blood, and his eyes hadn't been visible. However, he had spoken in the warmest voice. He had said, "Thank you. I promise I'll repay you someday." Yvette couldn't help but bitterly wonder if this was his way of repaying her. โฆ Once Yvette returned to the hotel, she took a shower and applied medication to her scraped skin. Then, she lay down in a daze. The fall hardened her determination to leave Xavier for good. โฆ The sun was shining brightly outside when Yvette woke up. She got up and headed to the living area, only to see Yara sitting on the couch, wearing a formal dress. Yara didn't seem to care one bit that Yvette had just woken up. She picked the document off the coffee table and handed it to the latter. "Take a good look at this. It's the backup plan I've selected for you." Yvette accepted the document but saw the title "prenuptial agreement" on the cover. She flipped through the pages while reading the contents aloud. "Ms. Yvette Snyder will marry Mr. Liam Lorimer. As his wife, she'll devote herself to him and look after him until the end of his life. Liam will look after Yvette's family, which includes maintaining their quality of life. He'll also provide 300 million as funds for the Snyder family." Following that, the document stated Liam's details. He was an entrepreneur from the older generation in Tirion. He was 78 years old that year. Yvette's mind tensed. At that moment, Yara spoke up again. "Mr. Lorimer has expressed that he doesn't mind that you were married before. "He'll help revive our family's reputation from the ashes, as long as you marry him. Come on, dearest. You wouldn't let me and Terrence down, right?" Yvette's face paled even more. "I can't agree to what you're asking of me." Yara had never imagined that Yvette would reject her so candidly. She blew up in a fit of rage at once. "What right do you have to refuse? I gave you life!" Hearing that, Yvette met Yara's gaze. "How about I return my life to you? Would that mean I no longer owe you?" "What did you say?" Yara shrilled. Yvette's pale lips moved as she said, "If I returned my life to you, would it mean you'd no longer be my mother? And I'll no longer be indebted to you for giving birth to me?" Yara sneered, not believing Yvette would dare do such a thing. "Okay, then. I won't force you to marry Mr. Lorimer if you give your life back to me. But the question is, do you have the guts to do it?" "Give me a month." Yvette seemed determined. In Yara's eyes, Yvette seemed like a crazed person. She warned, "You'd best not threaten me by only saying you'll end your life. We're not that close, so I don't care if you die. However, you must sign this document if you're too afraid to end your life." โฆ Yvette had suppressed all her emotions to the brim and needed to vent somewhere. So, she went to a bar. She sat in a corner, drinking and watching the crowd happily dance in a daze. That was when a dashing man with striking eyes noticed Yvette, who was all alone. He approached and asked, "Yvette?" Yvette stared at the man but didn't recognize him. Still dazed, she asked, "Do you know how one can achieve happiness?" The man was confused. "What did you say?" Yvette continued drinking as she spoke. "The doctor says I'm ill and should try to be happier, but I can't make myself feel happyโฆ" That sparked discomfort in the man, Claude Lander. He wondered if Yvette had forgotten about him. Also, he was confused by what she saidโsomething about being ill and needing to be happier. "You shouldn't be in a place like this if you want to be happy. Why don't I drive you home?" Claude spoke in a gentle tone. A smile curved across Yvette's face as she looked at him. "You're a good person." Complex emotions stirred in Claude when he saw her bitter smile. He wondered what she had been through these past few years. Why did she seem so sorrowful? Meanwhile, Xavier was also at the bar. After settling the divorce papers, he had let himself loose every night. On top of that, he hadn't returned to Dewberry Estate in a long time. It was getting late. When the crowd was about to leave, Daphne noticed a familiar figure in a corner of the bar. She exclaimed, "Isn't that Yvvy?" Xavier glanced in the direction Daphne was staring in and saw a man merrily chatting with Yvette. His expression soured at once. He was disappointed in Yvette for getting drunk at a bar and chatting up another man. He felt like he had thought too highly of her before. "Should we go and check up on her, Xav?" asked Daphne. "No," was all Xavier said before speedily leaving. On the other hand, Yvette declined Claude's offer. "There's no need to trouble yourself. I can go home on my own." Claude was still worried about Yvette, so he ran after her when he noticed her leaving the bar. "Do you really not remember me?" Yvette gazed at him but couldn't recall who he was. "It's Chubbs. Have you forgotten?" Claude reminded her. Only then did Yvette remember her friend, Chubbs, whom she met when she had been living with Viola in the countryside. Back then, Claude had been chubbier and nowhere near Yvette's height. Yet, his six-foot-two-inch frame now towered over her. He had even grown to have handsome features. "I remember now! You've changed so much. I didn't even recognize you!" said Yvette. Meeting an old friend away from home was a pleasant thing. But only a slight smile curved on Yvette's face. That upset Claude. "Come on. I'll drive you home," Claude stated. When he dropped her off, he was shocked to learn she lived in a run-down hotel. Yvette shifted in embarrassment. "Sorry, it's not a glamorous place. Please don't tell Viola I'm living in such a place. I don't want her to worry." Claude nodded. Since it was getting late, it was unwise for him to stay longer. So, he left after telling Yvette he would visit her the next day. He didn't notice the matte black car lingering in a dark area beneath the hotel as he walked out. Now that Claude had left, Yvette felt dizzy and had an upset stomach from drinking too much. That was when someone knocked hard on the door. Yvette had just opened the door when Xavier grabbed her wrist. He exerted so much strength on her slender wrist that it felt close to snapping in half. "You've made me look at you in a new light, Yvette!" Xavier snarled while shutting and locking the door. He then forcefully led her to the couch. He sneered with words as sharp and lethal as a blade, "So, you've already settled on which family you'll marry into next, huh? I knew you wouldn't be so willing to let me go for no reason!" Yvette didn't know why he had come over, nor did she know how he had seen Claude. She was only briefly dazed. Once she snapped out of it, she shot a furious look at Xavier and didn't bother explaining herself to him. The rims of her eyes reddened. "You and I aren't that different from each other." The Snyder family had tricked Xavier into marrying Yvette. However, Xavier had treated her coldly for three years while remaining entangled with his first love. Neither Xavier nor Yvette was a better person than the other. Xavier had also drunk some wine, so he reeked of it. Eyes reddening, he pinched Yvette's chin and spoke with a dangerously low voice. "Who is he? When did you guys meet?" That was the first time Yvette had seen him behave like this. She suddenly chuckled. "Are you jealous?" Xavier's gaze grew tense as he scoffed. "You're unworthy of such a reaction." Yvette became choked up. That was when Xavier leaned in domineeringly and continued interrogating her. "Has he already touched you? Huh?" In her three years of marriage, Yvette had given up on her work and declined to meet her friends whenever they had occasionally invited her out. She had done so to obey the Lane family's rules. But now Xavier was suspicious of her. Relief washed over Yvette just then. She questioned him back, "What do you think?" That utterly angered Xavier, and his heated hands started travelling down her body. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889626 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188547 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889627 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188548 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889629 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188548 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889630 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188548 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889632 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188549 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889633 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188549 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889637 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889639 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889643 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889645 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889649 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889652 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889653 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889655 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889657 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889660 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889661 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889665 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889669 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188552 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889671 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889680 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889682 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188554 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889685 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188555 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889687 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188555 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889689 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188556 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://fb.com/canvas_doc/1529881124574176 | 1718872132 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448636917_435841155998365_1800961673279131810_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i1vPWhbv3tQQ7kNvgEwK6_3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJylZFtRIgx5E99a2FlKKxdp5VJ3eTf2JVT0quVGZtiA&oe=667E93BB | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448614299_481036444310356_8741186541011198025_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y5xZOsnbBGcQ7kNvgEP3zGu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB-6p-J2cVStMutwPVLy1yF-Vrw-QBFfqHOBMaOYI7VoA&oe=667E78A1 | 0 | 3 | One<br /> Neah<br /> โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. <br /> The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts.<br /> โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me<br /> I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough.<br /> โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ<br /> I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. <br /> Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack.<br /> โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. <br /> We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us?<br /> He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away.<br /> Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha.<br /> Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am.<br /> Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right.<br /> They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded.<br /> โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone.<br /> โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he?<br /> โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me.<br /> I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst.<br /> โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ <br /> I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me.<br /> โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ<br /> โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week?<br /> โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ<br /> โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. <br /> โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink.<br /> I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me.<br /> โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me.<br /> Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part.<br /> He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ<br /> If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give.<br /> Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell.<br /> The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ<br /> Crap, it was him.<br /> My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn.<br /> โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room.<br /> Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist.<br /> He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ<br /> What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me.<br /> My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food.<br /> โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ<br /> I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men.<br /> โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ<br /> He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ<br /> Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants.<br /> I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me.<br /> Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door.<br /> โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ<br /> I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely.<br /> Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass.<br /> I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me.<br /> โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother.<br /> โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions.<br /> โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. <br /> No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too.<br /> โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits <br /> I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free.<br /> โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry.<br /> โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ<br /> <br /> Two<br /> Neah<br /> Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound.<br /> I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in.<br /> There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ<br /> โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day.<br /> His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ<br /> โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps<br /> โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ<br /> What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk.<br /> โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters<br /> โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ<br /> He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ<br /> Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago.<br /> โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ<br /> โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ<br /> Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere.<br /> โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ<br /> โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims<br /> โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ<br /> The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach.<br /> โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ<br /> โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth.<br /> โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head.<br /> My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me.<br /> My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ<br /> He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door.<br /> โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open.<br /> On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull..<br /> โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily.<br /> โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ<br /> โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ<br /> โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds.<br /> Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ<br /> โWe donโtโฆ.โ<br /> โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ<br /> โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ<br /> โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ<br /> I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together.<br /> โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers<br /> I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering.<br /> โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother<br /> โWe have already agreed on terms.โ<br /> โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ<br /> โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth.<br /> โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ<br /> Me? Why would he want me?<br /> As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me?<br /> โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother.<br /> โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to?<br /> He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him.<br /> โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me.<br /> Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack<br /> By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane?<br /> <br /> Three<br /> Dane<br /> โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse.<br /> โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him<br /> โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ <br /> โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses.<br /> The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks.<br /> โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ<br /> I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her.<br /> โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ<br /> He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut.<br /> They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast.<br /> My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back.<br /> I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out.<br /> โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts.<br /> โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ<br /> The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha.<br /> Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head.<br /> โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ<br /> โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance.<br /> โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ <br /> โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers.<br /> โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ<br /> โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. <br /> Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey.<br /> I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why.<br /> โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs<br /> โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ<br /> โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ<br /> โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls<br /> โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ<br /> Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. <br /> โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide<br /> โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ<br /> Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. <br /> โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ<br /> โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low<br /> โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ<br /> She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life.<br /> โSo what will it be?โ<br /> โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ<br /> โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself.<br /> Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office..<br /> โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up.<br /> She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head.<br /> โSit!โ I say it a little louder<br /> โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement<br /> โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped.<br /> โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did.<br /> The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ<br /> โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ<br /> โAnd you want my help, correct?โ<br /> The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down.<br /> โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ<br /> โYou should read the contract.โ I muse<br /> โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ<br /> โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed<br /> They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters<br /> โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches.<br /> If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of.<br /> Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ<br /> Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her.<br /> She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo.<br /> โCome.โ I instruct<br /> Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously.<br /> โIs she okay?โ Eric links me.<br /> โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ<br /> โOkay.โ Her lips barely move<br /> She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. <br /> โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child.<br /> Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap.<br /> โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ<br /> I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it.<br /> Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible.<br /> Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright.<br /> โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her.<br /> โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door.<br /> She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last.<br /> โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest.<br /> She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not<br /> โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around.<br /> We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ<br /> Her brow furrows and still she says nothing.<br /> Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ<br /> Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room<br /> โWell?โ I ask.<br /> โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers<br /> Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days.<br /> Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive?<br /> <br /> Four<br /> Dane<br /> She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins.<br /> I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress.<br /> โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?"<br /> "No."<br /> She was lying, I could feel it.<br /> She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back.<br /> Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. <br /> โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ<br /> โMark me?โ<br /> I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider.<br /> โYes, I will mark you.โ<br /> She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me.<br /> I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday.<br /> โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face..<br /> โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ<br /> โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ<br /> โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts.<br /> I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her.<br /> โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her.<br /> She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ<br /> Forget? How could she forget a wound?<br /> โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong.<br /> It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. <br /> โShow me!โ<br /> โItโs fine.โ She mumbles<br /> I was already so sick of hearing that phrase.<br /> โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ<br /> Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ<br /> โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?!<br /> She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes.<br /> โOffice,โ Aero mutters.<br /> โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind.<br /> โThis way.โ I gesture to the door.<br /> Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that.<br /> In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me.<br /> She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. <br /> โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers.<br /> โYou need to stop saying that.โ<br /> She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons.<br /> โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ<br /> It wasnโt optional.<br /> She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons.<br /> Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too.<br /> Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too.<br /> There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago.<br /> She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame.<br /> โYou need to see a doctor.โ<br /> โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ<br /> โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body<br /> She lowers her blue eyes.<br /> โCassandra?โ<br /> She still doesnโt answer me.<br /> โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ<br /> She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. <br /> โAnyone else?โ<br /> โThe pack.โ She whispers.<br /> โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls.<br /> He will have to get in line,<br /> โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ<br /> She nods.<br /> โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ<br /> She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?"<br /> <br /> Five<br /> Neah<br /> โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper<br /> He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ<br /> โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully.<br /> โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ<br /> โOh.โ<br /> โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ<br /> I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it?<br /> โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ<br /> Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.<br /> Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet.<br /> As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom.<br /> His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. <br /> What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that.<br /> He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ<br /> I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions.<br /> Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me.<br /> โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ<br /> Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ<br /> He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold.<br /> He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ<br /> Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home.<br /> The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it.<br /> Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden.<br /> โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here.<br /> I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room.<br /> โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath.<br /> Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers.<br /> โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ<br /> He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that.<br /> โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood.<br /> The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him.<br /> She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin.<br /> I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ<br /> It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity.<br /> โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ<br /> โI have a wound.โ I whisper.<br /> โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused<br /> โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in.<br /> โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ<br /> My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped.<br /> Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ<br /> She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound.<br /> Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it.<br /> Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ<br /> โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day.<br /> Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ<br /> โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders<br /> โI donโt know.โ<br /> โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain.<br /> โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ<br /> Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth.<br /> โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket.<br /> โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound<br /> โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes<br /> โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ<br /> I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house.<br /> She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ<br /> โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term.<br /> โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ<br /> โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read.<br /> She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said.<br /> โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me.<br /> โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. <br /> โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. <br /> It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier.<br /> Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ<br /> โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating.<br /> โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ<br /> It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | INSTALL_MOBILE_APP | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889693 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188556 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889695 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188557 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889697 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188558 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889699 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188558 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889701 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188559 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889703 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188559 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1151488566099663 | 1 | 3.741970716041E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889705 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188559 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1151488566099663 | 1 | 3.741970716041E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889711 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188561 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1151488566099663 | 1 | 3.741970716041E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889712 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1151488566099663 | 1 | 3.741970716041E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889713 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889714 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889715 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889716 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889717 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889718 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889719 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889720 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889721 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889722 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188562 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1402556640428550 | 1 | 2.8823912318998E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889723 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889724 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889725 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889727 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889729 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889731 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889733 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1027739225647193 | 3 | 9.7920658359528E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 223709867501018 | 0 | CEO Dorsey | 120212553134780387 | app.thefundingplaybook.com | Learn more | NONE | video | [Free Training] Funding At 0% Interest | https://app.thefundingplaybook.com/takequestionnaire?utm_source=Facebook+Ads&utm_medium=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&utm_campaign=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&utm_content=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D | 1717618517 | 2.2370986750102E+14 | CEO Dorsey | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447523384_972250977981748_4782811025716932374_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ABKLR7NlvlMQ7kNvgHPJ3tC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYABHJsk9D_ezAwcgOQdzUIWQ3HzsOtedZJXfxw5uDiMDw&oe=667EA288 | person_profile | 0 | Bryan Dorsey | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447556381_828120382706120_7995311071906859520_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KxHTVFROJdQQ7kNvgEB9KXY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAudaDzmZ9DZhpr8X5arrLGP71WKIsNRFoNJ9OJSUYZ9A&oe=667E7DE2 | 0 | 3 | Using OPM can suck, letโs be realโฆ<br /> <br /> Donโt get me wrong not having to fund your own deals can be amazing but every time you bring in a partner your margin shrinks. <br /> <br /> And I get it, that can be the cost of doing business if you canโt fund your deals yourselfโฆ<br /> <br /> But what if it didnโt have to be? <br /> <br /> Believe it or not youโre only one or two steps away from getting hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding that you can use for your deals and the best partโฆ<br /> <br /> I can show you how to get it at 0% interestโฆ<br /> <br /> My nameโs Mr. Dorsey and over the last few years Iโve helped entrepreneurs and investors just like you get over 165M in funding and I want to help you do the same.<br /> <br /> When it comes to getting funded, while itโs easier than most could imagineโฆ<br /> <br /> There are a few very specific reasons that hold people back or cause them to get denied immediately.<br /> <br /> So Iโve put together a quick quiz you can (should only take 30 seconds) and based on what you tell me Iโll show you the number one most important thing you need to do to increase your odds of funding successfullyโฆ<br /> <br /> Click the link below, take the quiz, and start taking steps towards funding your own deals and increasing your margins!<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fapp.thefundingplaybook.com%2Ftakequestionnaire&h=AT36HU9GU9NEecPvAScOsogyblUO3VNppLdHfdGM5uCzMfBHRSUt_lhIfwBWoQ-M2VCT75qDz6WfJDk1yFkOblON5NsCQH2MrJcn7ml5fYEpY9NrYt4AibpN7rOM3k_oAVEVYqhqnWIB4SbGVyUdXYWNaNncdg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://app.thefundingplaybook.com/takequestionnaire</a><br /> <br /> I promise you the training Iโll send based on your survey will open more doors than just about anything you do this year. | CEO Dorsey | 23 | https://facebook.com/CEODorsey | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717657200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889737 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188565 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889741 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188567 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889743 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188567 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889745 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188568 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 2653490268142926 | 1 | 1.8676215569854E+15 | 1712473200 | regular_page | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 1 | 121885057680157 | 1 | Random Reading | 120210454205490779 | okmstudio.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://okmstudio.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10549&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712315649 | 1.2188505768016E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433923186_755455479693362_1037705198570906748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-LZ23jDY4-gQ7kNvgFAq1st&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBK9AyLpfq0jvWuBVAToAK15awDO1BrF7LiCgFdsMXjOQ&oe=667E9EA4 | regular_page | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434408489_730742422598410_4093505724007534351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hh9i6EGwF_AQ7kNvgEEcvLK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC4_mH5U0s95mZE5CUiJqWyzP2ggyB1gpZQDsYvuYeBcw&oe=667E83EF | 0 | 3 | "Mrs. Ford, Mr. Ford's back." "Really?" Yasmin Starr was busy with her drafts. When she heard that her husband was back, her eyes lit up. She drew the curtains before her to see a shiny car driving along the path leading to the villa. She saw a man in the car. His handsome face was visible from where she stood; his actions and carriage exuded a regal air. It really was him! Yasmin's heart started racing. Her face burned at the thought of the things they did whenever he came home. Every kiss they shared was searing and passionate. It made her shy yet nervous. Just then, the door to her room swung open. Blake Ford walked in. Yasmin smiled at him. "Mr. B!" "Come here." He loosened his tie. She walked over to him shyly. In the next second, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hard kiss. She moaned before sinking into the kiss. Then, he carried her to the bed and had his way with her. Blake looked like the celibate and gentle type, but he was no gentleman on bed. He wouldn't let Yasmin off the hook without making her cry. Yasmin shut her eyes as she savored the experience. This time, Blake was wilder than he'd ever been. He was only satiated when she begged him to stop with tears streaming down her face. He lifted the sheets and strode into the bathroom. Shortly after, there was the sound of running water. Yasmin remained in bed, lying there without an ounce of strength in her body. She and Blake had been secretly married for two years now. At first, it hadn't been a marriage of love. Her father had forced Blake to wed her. So, in the beginning, he didn't like her much. But she adored him. She'd done everything she could to chase after him and treat him well. Finally, he'd returned her feelings. Yasmin's heart pounded as she recalled how wild and enthusiastic he'd been tonight. She couldn't help feeling sweet. Would their marriage get better from now on? Once she bore him a child, they'd be a happy family of three. Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open. Blake walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He had an amazing body, but his expression seemed somewhat menacing. He hadn't even wiped the beads of water dripping from his hair as he asked brusquely, "Do you have a baby?" Blake held up a test. It had been placed on the toilet bowl, where he'd taken it. Yasmin sat up. She was a little scared of not being able to read him. "I don't know yet. I bought it this morning." "Why did you buy it?" "I've been feeling nauseous lately, and I haven't had much of an appetite. You told me to do a test if I had any symptoms." Yasmin's big eyes were filled with innocence. Blake said, "Go do the test now." "I'll wait until you're done showering." He was obviously not done yet. "Do it. Now." His expression was frosty. Yasmin didn't dare delay further. It just so happened that she needed to pee, so she did the test at the same time. A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. Blake was sitting on the touch. He looked up when he heard her come out. His eyes were like dark whirlpools as he looked at her. "How is it?" "There's only one line, Mr. B." Yasmin was rather disappointed. She didn't have a baby. It was impossible to tell whether Blake's eyes were filled with disappointment or relief. He said calmly, "Get me something to wear." "Are you still going out so late at night?" "Yeah." His voice was as cold as ever. Yasmin didn't say anything else. She went to the walk-in wardrobe. She was actually very disappointed. Deep down, she wanted to bear a child. The Ford family wanted her to have a child, as did Blake. But no matter what treatments and supplements she'd taken over the past two years, she'd still failed to conceive. Besides, she was reluctant to let Blake go. Over the two years of their marriage, her love for Blake had only grown deeper. He was always too busy for her, though. Sometimes, he would be away from home for up to half a month. Now that they'd finally been reunited, he was leaving again. ###6891225### Chapter 2 Yasmin felt a little bitter. She grabbed some dark clothes from the wardrobe and returned to the room. There, she heard Blake talking to someone on the phone. "Don't be scared. Have Alicia keep an eye on you. I'll be right there." His voice was a brand of tenderness that Yasmin had never heard before. She stopped short. Suddenly, the sweetness she'd felt earlier dissipated. She asked tentatively, "Who was that, Mr. B?" He glanced at her, his tall stature domineering. He said coldly, "No one." "Was it a woman?" "It's none of your business." He grabbed the clothes from her and put them on. Usually, he would have her put them on for him. Would every man start to be repelled by their wives once they fell in love with someone else? Yasmin's stomach started convulsing. It looked like she had a stomach problem. She felt horrible. Blake got dressed and turned to leave. Yasmin was on high alertโa woman's sixth sense was powerful. She ran to the door and said, "I'm feeling a little sick, Mr. B. Could you stay the night?" Blake turned to look at her. He was unbelievably handsome, but there was something about him that just made him seem heartless. "Have Mary call the family doctor if you're not feeling well. Also, I won't be back for some time." With that, he headed downstairs. His figure went further and further away under the warm lights. Yasmin suddenly felt dazed. Why did it feel like she'd never truly held a spot in his heart? A wave of nausea washed over her. She ran to the bathroom and vomited her dinner. This was followed by a sharp pain in her stomach. She was as pale as a sheet as she struggled to crawl to the bed. She'd just laid down when another bolt of pain shot through her. Yasmin ran to the bathroom again. This time, there was only bile. She she had food poisoning! She grabbed her phone weakly to call Mary Gould. "My stomach hurts, Mary. Take me to the hospital." Mary ran upstairs. When she saw Yasmin sprawled on the carpet, drenched in sweat, she hurriedly called the driver. They took Yasmin to the hospital. When they arrived, Mary helped her inside the clinic. The doctor gave her a painkiller before instructing her to do an ultrasound. They needed to determine whether it was acute cholecystitis or gastritis. Yasmin's stomach stopped hurting once the painkiller was administered. It lifted her spirits somewhat. Mary helped her to the ultrasound room. But there, they met someone unexpectedโBlake. "Mrs. Ford, look! It's Mr. Ford!" Mary looked happy. Yasmin looked in the direction she pointed. She saw Blake standing not too far away. A wave of delight washed over her. She was about to call out to him when she saw another woman. The woman came out of the room with a hand supporting her back. She held a report. "The doctor said the baby's fine, Blake." His cold face immediately became tender. "That's good to know. Remember to watch what you eat in the future. Now that you're to be a mother, you have to be careful about the food you consume." "Okay. I'll watch out from now on." The woman smiled gently. Yasmin was rooted to the spot with astonishment. Her gaze went from delight to disbelief. She stared at them. The woman wore a light-colored, demure dress, and she was beautiful. Her long hair was glossy, and her eyes were right. She exuded a cool yet bewitching air. ###6891226### Chapter 3 Yasmin suddenly recalled something a friend of Blake's had once said. He'd told her, "There's a woman who lives in Blake's heart. They met in Merania, and he's pined after her for years. You and her look pretty similar, actually." At the time, Yasmin had been indignant. She felt that the woman was no match for her since she was already a thing of the past. Now, her dream had been shattered. As she watched how tender Blake was toward the woman, she felt like a sharp blade had been driven right into her heart. It hurt so much that all her organs felt like they were cramping. Blake shielded the woman from the crowd as they turned to leave. Suddenly, he caught sight of Yasmin standing not too far away. Mary was with her. He frowned. The woman asked gently, "Do you know her, Blake?" "Yeah. She's my wife, Yasmin Starr," he said plainly. "Why don't you head to the car first, Giselle? I'll be right behind you." "Okay." Giselle O'Shea nodded obediently. Before she left, she turned to look at Yasmin. Their gazes met in mid-air. Giselle appraised her and smiled faintly. Yasmin's heart constricted as bitterness seeped through it. Blake walked over to her. He was tall enough to block out the light above her head. "What are you doing here?" Mary was about to answer when Yasmin asked, "Who is she?" Why was Blake at the hospital with her for a prenatal check? Did she have his child? She stopped her thoughts there, not daring to think any further. "Don't ask about things that have nothing to do with you." Blake avoided her question. Yasmin's eyes turned red. "Can't I even ask a question when you've had an affair?" "An affair? Do you even have the right to say that?" Blake's gaze was menacing. "Have you forgotten how we got married? Also, I made it clear to you when we married that I would never love you." The blood drained from Yasmin's face. She clenched her fists tightly, barely able to calm down. "So I'm nothing but a disgusting buddy to you?" "Something like that." Yasmin smiled self-deprecatingly. "I see. You were mad at my dad for tricking you, so you thought you wouldn't waste the opportunity and just get me, huh?" "Stop talking." Blake's gaze was laser-sharp. So, she couldn't even talk now? Yasmin's heart sank to the depths of hell. She refused to listen and continued, "Now that the woman you love is back, what are you going to do to me?" He pursed his lips. His silence disappointed her. Yasmin's stomach started hurting again; even the painkiller wasn't doing anything to stop it. As the pain intensified, she finally passed out. โฆ It was already daytime when Yasmin woke up. She opened her eyes with a frown to see Blake leaving the room. She had an IV drip. "Mr. B!" she called. She almost fell out of the bed. Mary caught her. "Be careful, Mrs. Ford." "Where has Mr. B gone?" "That woman called him, so he went to see her." Yasmin jolted. "Don't let this upset you too much, Mrs. Ford. Your health should be your priority," Mary said, looking sad. "After doing the ultrasound, you were diagnosed with acute gastritis arising from food poisoning. You've already gone through three IV drips, so you're really weak now." Yasmin couldn't suppress the bitterness in her heart. She had acute gastritis, but Blake had abandoned her after one phone call from Giselle. It looked like she was no match for Giselle at all. "Have something to eat, Mrs. Ford." Mary brought her a bowl of oatmeal. Yasmin shook her head. "Set it aside for now, Mary. I don't want to eat anything yet." Just then, her phone, which had been placed on the bedside table, rang. She answered it wanly. "Hello?" ###6891227### Chapter 4 "Yaz, did you know about your precious Mr. B cheating on you?" The phone call was from Yasmin's best friend, Eunice Salle. "I saw it all over the news first thing in the morning! He's gotten together with a pianist named Giselle O'Shea, and it looks like she's even carrying a baby. "The paparazzi caught them at the hospital together. Hurry and go check it out!" Yasmin's heart constricted. She checked the news. There were tweets everywhere on Twitter talking about the photos of Blake accompanying Giselle to the hospital last night. Blake was the CEO of Windmere Group and had countless assets under his name. He was the most eligible bachelor in the city. This was why his private life had always been under intense scrutiny. Now that he'd gotten caught accompanying a woman to the hospital, it immediately became a trending topic. The netizens had even managed to dig out Giselle's personal information. She was a renowned pianist in Merania. She and Blake were childhood sweethearts. They had a strong bond. After growing up, she'd gone abroad to study while Blake had waited for her for ten years. Now that Giselle was back, they could finally be together. Everyone on the Internet was going crazy over their relationship. They were all lamenting the glory of their love. In just one morning, Giselle's Twitter account had gained three million followers. The one thing Yasmin noticed was that Giselle had been in Merania. It matched up with what Blake's friend had told her before. So, she was Blake's true love. Yasmin smiled mockingly. "Did you see it, Yaz? I can't believe this nonsense is all over the Internet. I can't take itโI have to go teach these people a lesson!" Eunice gritted her teeth. Yasmin stopped her. "Don't do anything. I already know about it." "Wait, you do?" "Yeah." Eunice's voice shot up an octave. "What is wrong with you? Aren't you going to do anything about him getting involved with another woman? Shouldn't you be teaching that woman a lesson?" Yasmin sighed. "Didn't you see what those people are saying? She's Mr. B's true love. He's waited for her for a decade." "I couldn't care less whether she's his true love or a call girl he hired. She's in the wrong for getting involved with him despite knowing he's married!" "Forget it." Yasmin sounded tired. "My marriage to Mr. B has always been a one-sided thing. I'm tired now." Besides, her manners and upbringing wouldn't permit her to get physical with Giselle. In fact, if she were to cause a fuss, the whole city would know what a terrible marriage she had. She and Blake had indeed been married, so she didn't want things to turn ugly. After a moment of silence, Eunice said, "What are you going to do, then? Are you going to keep this up or get a divorce?" "A divorce is all I want now." Yasmin looked at the needle on the back of her hand. She was sick, yet he was accompanying Giselle. Her heart was now dead. "Since he doesn't care about me, I won't force things anymore." "I'll always support you, Yaz. You're so pretty. There are plenty of men who'd love to be with you. You don't have to be so hung up on a scumbag!" "Thanks for comforting me." She was grateful to have Eunice by her side when she was at her worst. After hanging up, Yasmin rested for a while. When she was finally done with her IV drip, she felt better. Her stomach didn't hurt anymore, but she was still rather weak. Mary and the driver took her home. She fell asleep again. Blake returned that night. As he took his coat off, he asked Mary, "Where is she?" "Upstairs. She's sleeping." Mary added, "Mrs. Ford was quite sad to see that you weren't around when she woke up this morning, Mr. Ford." Blake fell silent. After a pause, he went upstairs. He easily pushed the room door open. Yasmin was curled up on the bay window like a cat. Her long hair fell from the seat to the floor. It made her seem that much more skinny and petite. Why was she sleeping there when she was sick? ###6891228### Chapter 5 Blake frowned and approached Yasmin. Her eyes were shut. There was a sort of childlike quality to her face as she slept, but it didn't take away from her beauty. Her naturally pink and moist lips were puckered slightly. They were as tempting as water to a parched man in the desert. Blake's anger dissipated at this sight. He bent down to lift her into his arms. At the warmth, Yasmin subconsciously buried her head against his neck. She wanted more of it. Blake looked down at her. His gaze was too deep for others to tell what he was thinking. Then, he placed her on the bed. He was about to leave when he heard her mumble, "You're nothing, Mr. B โฆ" Blake paused. He rested a hand on her face and caressed it. She was deeply asleep but subconsciously sucked on his finger. His breathing hitched. "Yasmin?" Was she awake? She didn't respond. Instead, she turned on her side and held his hand to her cheek. She looked wholly dependent on him. Blake lowered his head and kissed her. Yasmin felt like her tongue was numb from being kissed. As she woke up blearily, the first thing she saw was a handsome face that had been zoomed in. Before she could say anything, Blake kissed her again. He slipped a hand underneath her dress. His gaze was fiery enough to set her ablaze. Yasmin's expression turned icy. She bit his tongue hard. "What the h...!" With that, a bolt of pain shot through Blake. He released her. She rolled away from him, wrapping the sheets around herself as she glared at him. "What?" He gave her an icy look. "That's my line. Did you come here to see me after your date with your mistress? Don't you find yourself dirty?" Yasmin looked furious. Blake's gaze turned frosty. "She's not a mistress. Don't spout nonsense." "How is she not a mistress when she already has your child?" Blake didn't answer her. Instead, he said, "Don't you dare hurt her." Yasmin sneered. "How could I possibly hurt her? Do I look like a monster to you? Or do you think I'm powerful enough to go against you?" "Just don't bother her." Yasmin trembled. She didn't expect him to be so protective of her. She fell silent, looking frosty. "How's your stomach?" Blake sat by the bed and broke the silence. "What does it have to do with you?" Yasmin was mad at the mention of this. She'd been languishing in the hospital room while he'd been with another woman. No wife on this earth would be able to accept something like that. She was so mad that tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision. She said bluntly, "Let's get divorced, Blake." "What did you call me?" Blake shot her an icy look. She'd always addressed him as "Mr. B". Blake was eight years older than Yasmin and exuded a natural dominance. In the past, she would be scared of him if he were to so much as glance at her, let alone give her such an icy look. But now, Yasmin didn't care anymore. She met his gaze head-on. "I called you by your name. From now on, I will only ever call you that. Also, I said, let's get divorced." The thought of a divorce had been reverberating in her mind since she'd woken up that morning to see him leave the hospital room. If he couldn't even be bothered to be by her side when she was hospitalized, what was the point of keeping him? He would only exasperate her. "What did you say?" Blake thought he'd heard her wrong. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Say that again if you dare." "I regret everything now, Blake. I don't want to be with you anymore," Yasmin enunciated, her voice steady and clear. "Let's get divorced." She'd be much better off kicking a heartless man like him to the curb as soon as possible. He was the one who said he'd never love her, anyway. Blake sneered. His gaze was harsh. "What's this trick you're trying to pull this time?" He even thought she was just playing the fool by demanding a divorce. It showed that when a man didn't love a woman, he would think she was just playing games, even if she were to throw herself off a building. ###6891229### Chapter 6 Yasmin was dead at heart, and her eyes were dull. "I'm not throwing a tantrum, Blake. I'm being serious. I've been stuck in a loveless marriage for two years, and I've had enough." Over more than 700 days, she'd gone from hopeful to despondent. She was tired of living like this. "Have you forgotten that your father was the one who sent you to my bed?" Blake's eyes darkened. "He went to such lengths to force me to marry you, yet you're now demanding a divorce. Do you even hear yourself? "Go ahead and throw whatever tantrum you want, but don't take things too far. Men hate it when women are too fussy, you know." Indeed, Yasmin's father, Stuart Starr, had sent her to Blake's bed. At the time, something had gone wrong with Stuart's company. He foresaw himself ending up behind bars and had been afraid of his enemies going after Yasmin. So, he'd orchestrated for Yasmin to end up in bed with Blake. Then, he'd informed the paparazzi and the Ford family about this, forcing Blake to marry Yasmin. Stuart had some of Windmere Group's trade secrets. He'd threatened to release them if Blake didn't protect Yasmin. And that was how Stuart had tricked Blake into marrying Yasmin. Blake had harbored a grudge against him and Yasmin for it. On their wedding night, he'd warned Yasmin, "Your father gave you to me, so you have to atone for his sins. Obey every word I say. Don't ever go against me." That year, Yasmin was 20 years old and a sophomore in college. She'd been terrified, and she'd nodded with red eyes. "I understand, Mr. B." "Don't call me that!" Blake snarled. "I'm sorry. I'll be careful from now on." Yasmin's eyes were filled with sorrow as she recalled their past. She didn't hate Stuart. She knew he'd forced Blake to marry her because he wanted to protect her. It had been two years since then. Stuart was still in prison but would be released in a few years once he'd served his full sentence. "I know you're still harboring a grudge against me and my father for forcing you into this marriage. Now, I'm setting you free," she said. She despised him for cheating on her but was still grateful that he'd kept her safe for two years. Blake looked at her icily. Then, he sneered. "That stupid studio of yours isn't making a single cent. Can you really feed yourself if we get divorced?" Yasmin and Eunice had set up their own studio. It was still early days and had yet to bring in profits. "No entrepreneur makes money when they first started. It takes time. I know I'm not earning anything yet, but I'll work hard. I've graduated and grown up, Blake. I don't need your protection anymore," Yasmin said. Blake knitted his brows tightly. "So that's what it is. You want a divorce because you don't need me for anything anymore. Do you really think reality's that sweet, Yasmin? Your family forced me to marry you when they needed me. Now that you don't need me anymore, you're demanding a divorce." "I'll admit that my father made a mistake, but haven't I been atoning for his sins for the past two years? I've obeyed you at every turn. I've never gone against you. Besides, don't you want to be free? Your mistress had a baby. Don't you want to give her and your child what they deserve?" "My matters have nothing to do with you," Blake said coldly. Yasmin fell silent. Indeed, he'd never allowed her to ask about his matters. She turned to leave the room. An ugly look crept onto Blake's face as he dragged her back and pinned her to the bed. He circled her with his arms and looked down at her sharply. Yasmin was caught off guard. "What are you doing?" "You're always talking about how much you love me, right? Look at how you have to announce it every day." There was a hint of anger in his face. "Are you really willing to watch me ride into the sunset with another woman? Doesn't it upset you?" Yasmin lowered her eyes. She said softly, "Not anymore." It did upset her, but she didn't want to love him anymore. | 0 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712300400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889747 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188568 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 2653490268142926 | 1 | 1.8676215569854E+15 | 1712473200 | regular_page | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 1 | 121885057680157 | 1 | Random Reading | 120210454205490779 | okmstudio.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://okmstudio.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10549&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712315649 | 1.2188505768016E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433923186_755455479693362_1037705198570906748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-LZ23jDY4-gQ7kNvgFAq1st&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBK9AyLpfq0jvWuBVAToAK15awDO1BrF7LiCgFdsMXjOQ&oe=667E9EA4 | regular_page | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434408489_730742422598410_4093505724007534351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hh9i6EGwF_AQ7kNvgEEcvLK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC4_mH5U0s95mZE5CUiJqWyzP2ggyB1gpZQDsYvuYeBcw&oe=667E83EF | 0 | 3 | "Mrs. Ford, Mr. Ford's back." "Really?" Yasmin Starr was busy with her drafts. When she heard that her husband was back, her eyes lit up. She drew the curtains before her to see a shiny car driving along the path leading to the villa. She saw a man in the car. His handsome face was visible from where she stood; his actions and carriage exuded a regal air. It really was him! Yasmin's heart started racing. Her face burned at the thought of the things they did whenever he came home. Every kiss they shared was searing and passionate. It made her shy yet nervous. Just then, the door to her room swung open. Blake Ford walked in. Yasmin smiled at him. "Mr. B!" "Come here." He loosened his tie. She walked over to him shyly. In the next second, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hard kiss. She moaned before sinking into the kiss. Then, he carried her to the bed and had his way with her. Blake looked like the celibate and gentle type, but he was no gentleman on bed. He wouldn't let Yasmin off the hook without making her cry. Yasmin shut her eyes as she savored the experience. This time, Blake was wilder than he'd ever been. He was only satiated when she begged him to stop with tears streaming down her face. He lifted the sheets and strode into the bathroom. Shortly after, there was the sound of running water. Yasmin remained in bed, lying there without an ounce of strength in her body. She and Blake had been secretly married for two years now. At first, it hadn't been a marriage of love. Her father had forced Blake to wed her. So, in the beginning, he didn't like her much. But she adored him. She'd done everything she could to chase after him and treat him well. Finally, he'd returned her feelings. Yasmin's heart pounded as she recalled how wild and enthusiastic he'd been tonight. She couldn't help feeling sweet. Would their marriage get better from now on? Once she bore him a child, they'd be a happy family of three. Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open. Blake walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He had an amazing body, but his expression seemed somewhat menacing. He hadn't even wiped the beads of water dripping from his hair as he asked brusquely, "Do you have a baby?" Blake held up a test. It had been placed on the toilet bowl, where he'd taken it. Yasmin sat up. She was a little scared of not being able to read him. "I don't know yet. I bought it this morning." "Why did you buy it?" "I've been feeling nauseous lately, and I haven't had much of an appetite. You told me to do a test if I had any symptoms." Yasmin's big eyes were filled with innocence. Blake said, "Go do the test now." "I'll wait until you're done showering." He was obviously not done yet. "Do it. Now." His expression was frosty. Yasmin didn't dare delay further. It just so happened that she needed to pee, so she did the test at the same time. A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. Blake was sitting on the touch. He looked up when he heard her come out. His eyes were like dark whirlpools as he looked at her. "How is it?" "There's only one line, Mr. B." Yasmin was rather disappointed. She didn't have a baby. It was impossible to tell whether Blake's eyes were filled with disappointment or relief. He said calmly, "Get me something to wear." "Are you still going out so late at night?" "Yeah." His voice was as cold as ever. Yasmin didn't say anything else. She went to the walk-in wardrobe. She was actually very disappointed. Deep down, she wanted to bear a child. The Ford family wanted her to have a child, as did Blake. But no matter what treatments and supplements she'd taken over the past two years, she'd still failed to conceive. Besides, she was reluctant to let Blake go. Over the two years of their marriage, her love for Blake had only grown deeper. He was always too busy for her, though. Sometimes, he would be away from home for up to half a month. Now that they'd finally been reunited, he was leaving again. ###6891225### Chapter 2 Yasmin felt a little bitter. She grabbed some dark clothes from the wardrobe and returned to the room. There, she heard Blake talking to someone on the phone. "Don't be scared. Have Alicia keep an eye on you. I'll be right there." His voice was a brand of tenderness that Yasmin had never heard before. She stopped short. Suddenly, the sweetness she'd felt earlier dissipated. She asked tentatively, "Who was that, Mr. B?" He glanced at her, his tall stature domineering. He said coldly, "No one." "Was it a woman?" "It's none of your business." He grabbed the clothes from her and put them on. Usually, he would have her put them on for him. Would every man start to be repelled by their wives once they fell in love with someone else? Yasmin's stomach started convulsing. It looked like she had a stomach problem. She felt horrible. Blake got dressed and turned to leave. Yasmin was on high alertโa woman's sixth sense was powerful. She ran to the door and said, "I'm feeling a little sick, Mr. B. Could you stay the night?" Blake turned to look at her. He was unbelievably handsome, but there was something about him that just made him seem heartless. "Have Mary call the family doctor if you're not feeling well. Also, I won't be back for some time." With that, he headed downstairs. His figure went further and further away under the warm lights. Yasmin suddenly felt dazed. Why did it feel like she'd never truly held a spot in his heart? A wave of nausea washed over her. She ran to the bathroom and vomited her dinner. This was followed by a sharp pain in her stomach. She was as pale as a sheet as she struggled to crawl to the bed. She'd just laid down when another bolt of pain shot through her. Yasmin ran to the bathroom again. This time, there was only bile. She she had food poisoning! She grabbed her phone weakly to call Mary Gould. "My stomach hurts, Mary. Take me to the hospital." Mary ran upstairs. When she saw Yasmin sprawled on the carpet, drenched in sweat, she hurriedly called the driver. They took Yasmin to the hospital. When they arrived, Mary helped her inside the clinic. The doctor gave her a painkiller before instructing her to do an ultrasound. They needed to determine whether it was acute cholecystitis or gastritis. Yasmin's stomach stopped hurting once the painkiller was administered. It lifted her spirits somewhat. Mary helped her to the ultrasound room. But there, they met someone unexpectedโBlake. "Mrs. Ford, look! It's Mr. Ford!" Mary looked happy. Yasmin looked in the direction she pointed. She saw Blake standing not too far away. A wave of delight washed over her. She was about to call out to him when she saw another woman. The woman came out of the room with a hand supporting her back. She held a report. "The doctor said the baby's fine, Blake." His cold face immediately became tender. "That's good to know. Remember to watch what you eat in the future. Now that you're to be a mother, you have to be careful about the food you consume." "Okay. I'll watch out from now on." The woman smiled gently. Yasmin was rooted to the spot with astonishment. Her gaze went from delight to disbelief. She stared at them. The woman wore a light-colored, demure dress, and she was beautiful. Her long hair was glossy, and her eyes were right. She exuded a cool yet bewitching air. ###6891226### Chapter 3 Yasmin suddenly recalled something a friend of Blake's had once said. He'd told her, "There's a woman who lives in Blake's heart. They met in Merania, and he's pined after her for years. You and her look pretty similar, actually." At the time, Yasmin had been indignant. She felt that the woman was no match for her since she was already a thing of the past. Now, her dream had been shattered. As she watched how tender Blake was toward the woman, she felt like a sharp blade had been driven right into her heart. It hurt so much that all her organs felt like they were cramping. Blake shielded the woman from the crowd as they turned to leave. Suddenly, he caught sight of Yasmin standing not too far away. Mary was with her. He frowned. The woman asked gently, "Do you know her, Blake?" "Yeah. She's my wife, Yasmin Starr," he said plainly. "Why don't you head to the car first, Giselle? I'll be right behind you." "Okay." Giselle O'Shea nodded obediently. Before she left, she turned to look at Yasmin. Their gazes met in mid-air. Giselle appraised her and smiled faintly. Yasmin's heart constricted as bitterness seeped through it. Blake walked over to her. He was tall enough to block out the light above her head. "What are you doing here?" Mary was about to answer when Yasmin asked, "Who is she?" Why was Blake at the hospital with her for a prenatal check? Did she have his child? She stopped her thoughts there, not daring to think any further. "Don't ask about things that have nothing to do with you." Blake avoided her question. Yasmin's eyes turned red. "Can't I even ask a question when you've had an affair?" "An affair? Do you even have the right to say that?" Blake's gaze was menacing. "Have you forgotten how we got married? Also, I made it clear to you when we married that I would never love you." The blood drained from Yasmin's face. She clenched her fists tightly, barely able to calm down. "So I'm nothing but a disgusting buddy to you?" "Something like that." Yasmin smiled self-deprecatingly. "I see. You were mad at my dad for tricking you, so you thought you wouldn't waste the opportunity and just get me, huh?" "Stop talking." Blake's gaze was laser-sharp. So, she couldn't even talk now? Yasmin's heart sank to the depths of hell. She refused to listen and continued, "Now that the woman you love is back, what are you going to do to me?" He pursed his lips. His silence disappointed her. Yasmin's stomach started hurting again; even the painkiller wasn't doing anything to stop it. As the pain intensified, she finally passed out. โฆ It was already daytime when Yasmin woke up. She opened her eyes with a frown to see Blake leaving the room. She had an IV drip. "Mr. B!" she called. She almost fell out of the bed. Mary caught her. "Be careful, Mrs. Ford." "Where has Mr. B gone?" "That woman called him, so he went to see her." Yasmin jolted. "Don't let this upset you too much, Mrs. Ford. Your health should be your priority," Mary said, looking sad. "After doing the ultrasound, you were diagnosed with acute gastritis arising from food poisoning. You've already gone through three IV drips, so you're really weak now." Yasmin couldn't suppress the bitterness in her heart. She had acute gastritis, but Blake had abandoned her after one phone call from Giselle. It looked like she was no match for Giselle at all. "Have something to eat, Mrs. Ford." Mary brought her a bowl of oatmeal. Yasmin shook her head. "Set it aside for now, Mary. I don't want to eat anything yet." Just then, her phone, which had been placed on the bedside table, rang. She answered it wanly. "Hello?" ###6891227### Chapter 4 "Yaz, did you know about your precious Mr. B cheating on you?" The phone call was from Yasmin's best friend, Eunice Salle. "I saw it all over the news first thing in the morning! He's gotten together with a pianist named Giselle O'Shea, and it looks like she's even carrying a baby. "The paparazzi caught them at the hospital together. Hurry and go check it out!" Yasmin's heart constricted. She checked the news. There were tweets everywhere on Twitter talking about the photos of Blake accompanying Giselle to the hospital last night. Blake was the CEO of Windmere Group and had countless assets under his name. He was the most eligible bachelor in the city. This was why his private life had always been under intense scrutiny. Now that he'd gotten caught accompanying a woman to the hospital, it immediately became a trending topic. The netizens had even managed to dig out Giselle's personal information. She was a renowned pianist in Merania. She and Blake were childhood sweethearts. They had a strong bond. After growing up, she'd gone abroad to study while Blake had waited for her for ten years. Now that Giselle was back, they could finally be together. Everyone on the Internet was going crazy over their relationship. They were all lamenting the glory of their love. In just one morning, Giselle's Twitter account had gained three million followers. The one thing Yasmin noticed was that Giselle had been in Merania. It matched up with what Blake's friend had told her before. So, she was Blake's true love. Yasmin smiled mockingly. "Did you see it, Yaz? I can't believe this nonsense is all over the Internet. I can't take itโI have to go teach these people a lesson!" Eunice gritted her teeth. Yasmin stopped her. "Don't do anything. I already know about it." "Wait, you do?" "Yeah." Eunice's voice shot up an octave. "What is wrong with you? Aren't you going to do anything about him getting involved with another woman? Shouldn't you be teaching that woman a lesson?" Yasmin sighed. "Didn't you see what those people are saying? She's Mr. B's true love. He's waited for her for a decade." "I couldn't care less whether she's his true love or a call girl he hired. She's in the wrong for getting involved with him despite knowing he's married!" "Forget it." Yasmin sounded tired. "My marriage to Mr. B has always been a one-sided thing. I'm tired now." Besides, her manners and upbringing wouldn't permit her to get physical with Giselle. In fact, if she were to cause a fuss, the whole city would know what a terrible marriage she had. She and Blake had indeed been married, so she didn't want things to turn ugly. After a moment of silence, Eunice said, "What are you going to do, then? Are you going to keep this up or get a divorce?" "A divorce is all I want now." Yasmin looked at the needle on the back of her hand. She was sick, yet he was accompanying Giselle. Her heart was now dead. "Since he doesn't care about me, I won't force things anymore." "I'll always support you, Yaz. You're so pretty. There are plenty of men who'd love to be with you. You don't have to be so hung up on a scumbag!" "Thanks for comforting me." She was grateful to have Eunice by her side when she was at her worst. After hanging up, Yasmin rested for a while. When she was finally done with her IV drip, she felt better. Her stomach didn't hurt anymore, but she was still rather weak. Mary and the driver took her home. She fell asleep again. Blake returned that night. As he took his coat off, he asked Mary, "Where is she?" "Upstairs. She's sleeping." Mary added, "Mrs. Ford was quite sad to see that you weren't around when she woke up this morning, Mr. Ford." Blake fell silent. After a pause, he went upstairs. He easily pushed the room door open. Yasmin was curled up on the bay window like a cat. Her long hair fell from the seat to the floor. It made her seem that much more skinny and petite. Why was she sleeping there when she was sick? ###6891228### Chapter 5 Blake frowned and approached Yasmin. Her eyes were shut. There was a sort of childlike quality to her face as she slept, but it didn't take away from her beauty. Her naturally pink and moist lips were puckered slightly. They were as tempting as water to a parched man in the desert. Blake's anger dissipated at this sight. He bent down to lift her into his arms. At the warmth, Yasmin subconsciously buried her head against his neck. She wanted more of it. Blake looked down at her. His gaze was too deep for others to tell what he was thinking. Then, he placed her on the bed. He was about to leave when he heard her mumble, "You're nothing, Mr. B โฆ" Blake paused. He rested a hand on her face and caressed it. She was deeply asleep but subconsciously sucked on his finger. His breathing hitched. "Yasmin?" Was she awake? She didn't respond. Instead, she turned on her side and held his hand to her cheek. She looked wholly dependent on him. Blake lowered his head and kissed her. Yasmin felt like her tongue was numb from being kissed. As she woke up blearily, the first thing she saw was a handsome face that had been zoomed in. Before she could say anything, Blake kissed her again. He slipped a hand underneath her dress. His gaze was fiery enough to set her ablaze. Yasmin's expression turned icy. She bit his tongue hard. "What the h...!" With that, a bolt of pain shot through Blake. He released her. She rolled away from him, wrapping the sheets around herself as she glared at him. "What?" He gave her an icy look. "That's my line. Did you come here to see me after your date with your mistress? Don't you find yourself dirty?" Yasmin looked furious. Blake's gaze turned frosty. "She's not a mistress. Don't spout nonsense." "How is she not a mistress when she already has your child?" Blake didn't answer her. Instead, he said, "Don't you dare hurt her." Yasmin sneered. "How could I possibly hurt her? Do I look like a monster to you? Or do you think I'm powerful enough to go against you?" "Just don't bother her." Yasmin trembled. She didn't expect him to be so protective of her. She fell silent, looking frosty. "How's your stomach?" Blake sat by the bed and broke the silence. "What does it have to do with you?" Yasmin was mad at the mention of this. She'd been languishing in the hospital room while he'd been with another woman. No wife on this earth would be able to accept something like that. She was so mad that tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision. She said bluntly, "Let's get divorced, Blake." "What did you call me?" Blake shot her an icy look. She'd always addressed him as "Mr. B". Blake was eight years older than Yasmin and exuded a natural dominance. In the past, she would be scared of him if he were to so much as glance at her, let alone give her such an icy look. But now, Yasmin didn't care anymore. She met his gaze head-on. "I called you by your name. From now on, I will only ever call you that. Also, I said, let's get divorced." The thought of a divorce had been reverberating in her mind since she'd woken up that morning to see him leave the hospital room. If he couldn't even be bothered to be by her side when she was hospitalized, what was the point of keeping him? He would only exasperate her. "What did you say?" Blake thought he'd heard her wrong. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Say that again if you dare." "I regret everything now, Blake. I don't want to be with you anymore," Yasmin enunciated, her voice steady and clear. "Let's get divorced." She'd be much better off kicking a heartless man like him to the curb as soon as possible. He was the one who said he'd never love her, anyway. Blake sneered. His gaze was harsh. "What's this trick you're trying to pull this time?" He even thought she was just playing the fool by demanding a divorce. It showed that when a man didn't love a woman, he would think she was just playing games, even if she were to throw herself off a building. ###6891229### Chapter 6 Yasmin was dead at heart, and her eyes were dull. "I'm not throwing a tantrum, Blake. I'm being serious. I've been stuck in a loveless marriage for two years, and I've had enough." Over more than 700 days, she'd gone from hopeful to despondent. She was tired of living like this. "Have you forgotten that your father was the one who sent you to my bed?" Blake's eyes darkened. "He went to such lengths to force me to marry you, yet you're now demanding a divorce. Do you even hear yourself? "Go ahead and throw whatever tantrum you want, but don't take things too far. Men hate it when women are too fussy, you know." Indeed, Yasmin's father, Stuart Starr, had sent her to Blake's bed. At the time, something had gone wrong with Stuart's company. He foresaw himself ending up behind bars and had been afraid of his enemies going after Yasmin. So, he'd orchestrated for Yasmin to end up in bed with Blake. Then, he'd informed the paparazzi and the Ford family about this, forcing Blake to marry Yasmin. Stuart had some of Windmere Group's trade secrets. He'd threatened to release them if Blake didn't protect Yasmin. And that was how Stuart had tricked Blake into marrying Yasmin. Blake had harbored a grudge against him and Yasmin for it. On their wedding night, he'd warned Yasmin, "Your father gave you to me, so you have to atone for his sins. Obey every word I say. Don't ever go against me." That year, Yasmin was 20 years old and a sophomore in college. She'd been terrified, and she'd nodded with red eyes. "I understand, Mr. B." "Don't call me that!" Blake snarled. "I'm sorry. I'll be careful from now on." Yasmin's eyes were filled with sorrow as she recalled their past. She didn't hate Stuart. She knew he'd forced Blake to marry her because he wanted to protect her. It had been two years since then. Stuart was still in prison but would be released in a few years once he'd served his full sentence. "I know you're still harboring a grudge against me and my father for forcing you into this marriage. Now, I'm setting you free," she said. She despised him for cheating on her but was still grateful that he'd kept her safe for two years. Blake looked at her icily. Then, he sneered. "That stupid studio of yours isn't making a single cent. Can you really feed yourself if we get divorced?" Yasmin and Eunice had set up their own studio. It was still early days and had yet to bring in profits. "No entrepreneur makes money when they first started. It takes time. I know I'm not earning anything yet, but I'll work hard. I've graduated and grown up, Blake. I don't need your protection anymore," Yasmin said. Blake knitted his brows tightly. "So that's what it is. You want a divorce because you don't need me for anything anymore. Do you really think reality's that sweet, Yasmin? Your family forced me to marry you when they needed me. Now that you don't need me anymore, you're demanding a divorce." "I'll admit that my father made a mistake, but haven't I been atoning for his sins for the past two years? I've obeyed you at every turn. I've never gone against you. Besides, don't you want to be free? Your mistress had a baby. Don't you want to give her and your child what they deserve?" "My matters have nothing to do with you," Blake said coldly. Yasmin fell silent. Indeed, he'd never allowed her to ask about his matters. She turned to leave the room. An ugly look crept onto Blake's face as he dragged her back and pinned her to the bed. He circled her with his arms and looked down at her sharply. Yasmin was caught off guard. "What are you doing?" "You're always talking about how much you love me, right? Look at how you have to announce it every day." There was a hint of anger in his face. "Are you really willing to watch me ride into the sunset with another woman? Doesn't it upset you?" Yasmin lowered her eyes. She said softly, "Not anymore." It did upset her, but she didn't want to love him anymore. | 0 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712300400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Really?" Yasmin Starr was busy with her drafts. When she heard that her husband was back, her eyes lit up. She drew the curtains before her to see a shiny car driving along the path leading to the villa. She saw a man in the car. His handsome face was visible from where she stood; his actions and carriage exuded a regal air. It really was him! Yasmin's heart started racing. Her face burned at the thought of the things they did whenever he came home. Every kiss they shared was searing and passionate. It made her shy yet nervous. Just then, the door to her room swung open. Blake Ford walked in. Yasmin smiled at him. "Mr. B!" "Come here." He loosened his tie. She walked over to him shyly. In the next second, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hard kiss. She moaned before sinking into the kiss. Then, he carried her to the bed and had his way with her. Blake looked like the celibate and gentle type, but he was no gentleman on bed. He wouldn't let Yasmin off the hook without making her cry. Yasmin shut her eyes as she savored the experience. This time, Blake was wilder than he'd ever been. He was only satiated when she begged him to stop with tears streaming down her face. He lifted the sheets and strode into the bathroom. Shortly after, there was the sound of running water. Yasmin remained in bed, lying there without an ounce of strength in her body. She and Blake had been secretly married for two years now. At first, it hadn't been a marriage of love. Her father had forced Blake to wed her. So, in the beginning, he didn't like her much. But she adored him. She'd done everything she could to chase after him and treat him well. Finally, he'd returned her feelings. Yasmin's heart pounded as she recalled how wild and enthusiastic he'd been tonight. She couldn't help feeling sweet. Would their marriage get better from now on? Once she bore him a child, they'd be a happy family of three. Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open. Blake walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He had an amazing body, but his expression seemed somewhat menacing. He hadn't even wiped the beads of water dripping from his hair as he asked brusquely, "Do you have a baby?" Blake held up a test. It had been placed on the toilet bowl, where he'd taken it. Yasmin sat up. She was a little scared of not being able to read him. "I don't know yet. I bought it this morning." "Why did you buy it?" "I've been feeling nauseous lately, and I haven't had much of an appetite. You told me to do a test if I had any symptoms." Yasmin's big eyes were filled with innocence. Blake said, "Go do the test now." "I'll wait until you're done showering." He was obviously not done yet. "Do it. Now." His expression was frosty. Yasmin didn't dare delay further. It just so happened that she needed to pee, so she did the test at the same time. A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. Blake was sitting on the touch. He looked up when he heard her come out. His eyes were like dark whirlpools as he looked at her. "How is it?" "There's only one line, Mr. B." Yasmin was rather disappointed. She didn't have a baby. It was impossible to tell whether Blake's eyes were filled with disappointment or relief. He said calmly, "Get me something to wear." "Are you still going out so late at night?" "Yeah." His voice was as cold as ever. Yasmin didn't say anything else. She went to the walk-in wardrobe. She was actually very disappointed. Deep down, she wanted to bear a child. The Ford family wanted her to have a child, as did Blake. But no matter what treatments and supplements she'd taken over the past two years, she'd still failed to conceive. Besides, she was reluctant to let Blake go. Over the two years of their marriage, her love for Blake had only grown deeper. He was always too busy for her, though. Sometimes, he would be away from home for up to half a month. Now that they'd finally been reunited, he was leaving again. ###6891225### Chapter 2 Yasmin felt a little bitter. She grabbed some dark clothes from the wardrobe and returned to the room. There, she heard Blake talking to someone on the phone. "Don't be scared. Have Alicia keep an eye on you. I'll be right there." His voice was a brand of tenderness that Yasmin had never heard before. She stopped short. Suddenly, the sweetness she'd felt earlier dissipated. She asked tentatively, "Who was that, Mr. B?" He glanced at her, his tall stature domineering. He said coldly, "No one." "Was it a woman?" "It's none of your business." He grabbed the clothes from her and put them on. Usually, he would have her put them on for him. Would every man start to be repelled by their wives once they fell in love with someone else? Yasmin's stomach started convulsing. It looked like she had a stomach problem. She felt horrible. Blake got dressed and turned to leave. Yasmin was on high alertโa woman's sixth sense was powerful. She ran to the door and said, "I'm feeling a little sick, Mr. B. Could you stay the night?" Blake turned to look at her. He was unbelievably handsome, but there was something about him that just made him seem heartless. "Have Mary call the family doctor if you're not feeling well. Also, I won't be back for some time." With that, he headed downstairs. His figure went further and further away under the warm lights. Yasmin suddenly felt dazed. Why did it feel like she'd never truly held a spot in his heart? A wave of nausea washed over her. She ran to the bathroom and vomited her dinner. This was followed by a sharp pain in her stomach. She was as pale as a sheet as she struggled to crawl to the bed. She'd just laid down when another bolt of pain shot through her. Yasmin ran to the bathroom again. This time, there was only bile. She she had food poisoning! She grabbed her phone weakly to call Mary Gould. "My stomach hurts, Mary. Take me to the hospital." Mary ran upstairs. When she saw Yasmin sprawled on the carpet, drenched in sweat, she hurriedly called the driver. They took Yasmin to the hospital. When they arrived, Mary helped her inside the clinic. The doctor gave her a painkiller before instructing her to do an ultrasound. They needed to determine whether it was acute cholecystitis or gastritis. Yasmin's stomach stopped hurting once the painkiller was administered. It lifted her spirits somewhat. Mary helped her to the ultrasound room. But there, they met someone unexpectedโBlake. "Mrs. Ford, look! It's Mr. Ford!" Mary looked happy. Yasmin looked in the direction she pointed. She saw Blake standing not too far away. A wave of delight washed over her. She was about to call out to him when she saw another woman. The woman came out of the room with a hand supporting her back. She held a report. "The doctor said the baby's fine, Blake." His cold face immediately became tender. "That's good to know. Remember to watch what you eat in the future. Now that you're to be a mother, you have to be careful about the food you consume." "Okay. I'll watch out from now on." The woman smiled gently. Yasmin was rooted to the spot with astonishment. Her gaze went from delight to disbelief. She stared at them. The woman wore a light-colored, demure dress, and she was beautiful. Her long hair was glossy, and her eyes were right. She exuded a cool yet bewitching air. ###6891226### Chapter 3 Yasmin suddenly recalled something a friend of Blake's had once said. He'd told her, "There's a woman who lives in Blake's heart. They met in Merania, and he's pined after her for years. You and her look pretty similar, actually." At the time, Yasmin had been indignant. She felt that the woman was no match for her since she was already a thing of the past. Now, her dream had been shattered. As she watched how tender Blake was toward the woman, she felt like a sharp blade had been driven right into her heart. It hurt so much that all her organs felt like they were cramping. Blake shielded the woman from the crowd as they turned to leave. Suddenly, he caught sight of Yasmin standing not too far away. Mary was with her. He frowned. The woman asked gently, "Do you know her, Blake?" "Yeah. She's my wife, Yasmin Starr," he said plainly. "Why don't you head to the car first, Giselle? I'll be right behind you." "Okay." Giselle O'Shea nodded obediently. Before she left, she turned to look at Yasmin. Their gazes met in mid-air. Giselle appraised her and smiled faintly. Yasmin's heart constricted as bitterness seeped through it. Blake walked over to her. He was tall enough to block out the light above her head. "What are you doing here?" Mary was about to answer when Yasmin asked, "Who is she?" Why was Blake at the hospital with her for a prenatal check? Did she have his child? She stopped her thoughts there, not daring to think any further. "Don't ask about things that have nothing to do with you." Blake avoided her question. Yasmin's eyes turned red. "Can't I even ask a question when you've had an affair?" "An affair? Do you even have the right to say that?" Blake's gaze was menacing. "Have you forgotten how we got married? Also, I made it clear to you when we married that I would never love you." The blood drained from Yasmin's face. She clenched her fists tightly, barely able to calm down. "So I'm nothing but a disgusting buddy to you?" "Something like that." Yasmin smiled self-deprecatingly. "I see. You were mad at my dad for tricking you, so you thought you wouldn't waste the opportunity and just get me, huh?" "Stop talking." Blake's gaze was laser-sharp. So, she couldn't even talk now? Yasmin's heart sank to the depths of hell. She refused to listen and continued, "Now that the woman you love is back, what are you going to do to me?" He pursed his lips. His silence disappointed her. Yasmin's stomach started hurting again; even the painkiller wasn't doing anything to stop it. As the pain intensified, she finally passed out. โฆ It was already daytime when Yasmin woke up. She opened her eyes with a frown to see Blake leaving the room. She had an IV drip. "Mr. B!" she called. She almost fell out of the bed. Mary caught her. "Be careful, Mrs. Ford." "Where has Mr. B gone?" "That woman called him, so he went to see her." Yasmin jolted. "Don't let this upset you too much, Mrs. Ford. Your health should be your priority," Mary said, looking sad. "After doing the ultrasound, you were diagnosed with acute gastritis arising from food poisoning. You've already gone through three IV drips, so you're really weak now." Yasmin couldn't suppress the bitterness in her heart. She had acute gastritis, but Blake had abandoned her after one phone call from Giselle. It looked like she was no match for Giselle at all. "Have something to eat, Mrs. Ford." Mary brought her a bowl of oatmeal. Yasmin shook her head. "Set it aside for now, Mary. I don't want to eat anything yet." Just then, her phone, which had been placed on the bedside table, rang. She answered it wanly. "Hello?" ###6891227### Chapter 4 "Yaz, did you know about your precious Mr. B cheating on you?" The phone call was from Yasmin's best friend, Eunice Salle. "I saw it all over the news first thing in the morning! He's gotten together with a pianist named Giselle O'Shea, and it looks like she's even carrying a baby. "The paparazzi caught them at the hospital together. Hurry and go check it out!" Yasmin's heart constricted. She checked the news. There were tweets everywhere on Twitter talking about the photos of Blake accompanying Giselle to the hospital last night. Blake was the CEO of Windmere Group and had countless assets under his name. He was the most eligible bachelor in the city. This was why his private life had always been under intense scrutiny. Now that he'd gotten caught accompanying a woman to the hospital, it immediately became a trending topic. The netizens had even managed to dig out Giselle's personal information. She was a renowned pianist in Merania. She and Blake were childhood sweethearts. They had a strong bond. After growing up, she'd gone abroad to study while Blake had waited for her for ten years. Now that Giselle was back, they could finally be together. Everyone on the Internet was going crazy over their relationship. They were all lamenting the glory of their love. In just one morning, Giselle's Twitter account had gained three million followers. The one thing Yasmin noticed was that Giselle had been in Merania. It matched up with what Blake's friend had told her before. So, she was Blake's true love. Yasmin smiled mockingly. "Did you see it, Yaz? I can't believe this nonsense is all over the Internet. I can't take itโI have to go teach these people a lesson!" Eunice gritted her teeth. Yasmin stopped her. "Don't do anything. I already know about it." "Wait, you do?" "Yeah." Eunice's voice shot up an octave. "What is wrong with you? Aren't you going to do anything about him getting involved with another woman? Shouldn't you be teaching that woman a lesson?" Yasmin sighed. "Didn't you see what those people are saying? She's Mr. B's true love. He's waited for her for a decade." "I couldn't care less whether she's his true love or a call girl he hired. She's in the wrong for getting involved with him despite knowing he's married!" "Forget it." Yasmin sounded tired. "My marriage to Mr. B has always been a one-sided thing. I'm tired now." Besides, her manners and upbringing wouldn't permit her to get physical with Giselle. In fact, if she were to cause a fuss, the whole city would know what a terrible marriage she had. She and Blake had indeed been married, so she didn't want things to turn ugly. After a moment of silence, Eunice said, "What are you going to do, then? Are you going to keep this up or get a divorce?" "A divorce is all I want now." Yasmin looked at the needle on the back of her hand. She was sick, yet he was accompanying Giselle. Her heart was now dead. "Since he doesn't care about me, I won't force things anymore." "I'll always support you, Yaz. You're so pretty. There are plenty of men who'd love to be with you. You don't have to be so hung up on a scumbag!" "Thanks for comforting me." She was grateful to have Eunice by her side when she was at her worst. After hanging up, Yasmin rested for a while. When she was finally done with her IV drip, she felt better. Her stomach didn't hurt anymore, but she was still rather weak. Mary and the driver took her home. She fell asleep again. Blake returned that night. As he took his coat off, he asked Mary, "Where is she?" "Upstairs. She's sleeping." Mary added, "Mrs. Ford was quite sad to see that you weren't around when she woke up this morning, Mr. Ford." Blake fell silent. After a pause, he went upstairs. He easily pushed the room door open. Yasmin was curled up on the bay window like a cat. Her long hair fell from the seat to the floor. It made her seem that much more skinny and petite. Why was she sleeping there when she was sick? ###6891228### Chapter 5 Blake frowned and approached Yasmin. Her eyes were shut. There was a sort of childlike quality to her face as she slept, but it didn't take away from her beauty. Her naturally pink and moist lips were puckered slightly. They were as tempting as water to a parched man in the desert. Blake's anger dissipated at this sight. He bent down to lift her into his arms. At the warmth, Yasmin subconsciously buried her head against his neck. She wanted more of it. Blake looked down at her. His gaze was too deep for others to tell what he was thinking. Then, he placed her on the bed. He was about to leave when he heard her mumble, "You're nothing, Mr. B โฆ" Blake paused. He rested a hand on her face and caressed it. She was deeply asleep but subconsciously sucked on his finger. His breathing hitched. "Yasmin?" Was she awake? She didn't respond. Instead, she turned on her side and held his hand to her cheek. She looked wholly dependent on him. Blake lowered his head and kissed her. Yasmin felt like her tongue was numb from being kissed. As she woke up blearily, the first thing she saw was a handsome face that had been zoomed in. Before she could say anything, Blake kissed her again. He slipped a hand underneath her dress. His gaze was fiery enough to set her ablaze. Yasmin's expression turned icy. She bit his tongue hard. "What the h...!" With that, a bolt of pain shot through Blake. He released her. She rolled away from him, wrapping the sheets around herself as she glared at him. "What?" He gave her an icy look. "That's my line. Did you come here to see me after your date with your mistress? Don't you find yourself dirty?" Yasmin looked furious. Blake's gaze turned frosty. "She's not a mistress. Don't spout nonsense." "How is she not a mistress when she already has your child?" Blake didn't answer her. Instead, he said, "Don't you dare hurt her." Yasmin sneered. "How could I possibly hurt her? Do I look like a monster to you? Or do you think I'm powerful enough to go against you?" "Just don't bother her." Yasmin trembled. She didn't expect him to be so protective of her. She fell silent, looking frosty. "How's your stomach?" Blake sat by the bed and broke the silence. "What does it have to do with you?" Yasmin was mad at the mention of this. She'd been languishing in the hospital room while he'd been with another woman. No wife on this earth would be able to accept something like that. She was so mad that tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision. She said bluntly, "Let's get divorced, Blake." "What did you call me?" Blake shot her an icy look. She'd always addressed him as "Mr. B". Blake was eight years older than Yasmin and exuded a natural dominance. In the past, she would be scared of him if he were to so much as glance at her, let alone give her such an icy look. But now, Yasmin didn't care anymore. She met his gaze head-on. "I called you by your name. From now on, I will only ever call you that. Also, I said, let's get divorced." The thought of a divorce had been reverberating in her mind since she'd woken up that morning to see him leave the hospital room. If he couldn't even be bothered to be by her side when she was hospitalized, what was the point of keeping him? He would only exasperate her. "What did you say?" Blake thought he'd heard her wrong. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Say that again if you dare." "I regret everything now, Blake. I don't want to be with you anymore," Yasmin enunciated, her voice steady and clear. "Let's get divorced." She'd be much better off kicking a heartless man like him to the curb as soon as possible. He was the one who said he'd never love her, anyway. Blake sneered. His gaze was harsh. "What's this trick you're trying to pull this time?" He even thought she was just playing the fool by demanding a divorce. It showed that when a man didn't love a woman, he would think she was just playing games, even if she were to throw herself off a building. ###6891229### Chapter 6 Yasmin was dead at heart, and her eyes were dull. "I'm not throwing a tantrum, Blake. I'm being serious. I've been stuck in a loveless marriage for two years, and I've had enough." Over more than 700 days, she'd gone from hopeful to despondent. She was tired of living like this. "Have you forgotten that your father was the one who sent you to my bed?" Blake's eyes darkened. "He went to such lengths to force me to marry you, yet you're now demanding a divorce. Do you even hear yourself? "Go ahead and throw whatever tantrum you want, but don't take things too far. Men hate it when women are too fussy, you know." Indeed, Yasmin's father, Stuart Starr, had sent her to Blake's bed. At the time, something had gone wrong with Stuart's company. He foresaw himself ending up behind bars and had been afraid of his enemies going after Yasmin. So, he'd orchestrated for Yasmin to end up in bed with Blake. Then, he'd informed the paparazzi and the Ford family about this, forcing Blake to marry Yasmin. Stuart had some of Windmere Group's trade secrets. He'd threatened to release them if Blake didn't protect Yasmin. And that was how Stuart had tricked Blake into marrying Yasmin. Blake had harbored a grudge against him and Yasmin for it. On their wedding night, he'd warned Yasmin, "Your father gave you to me, so you have to atone for his sins. Obey every word I say. Don't ever go against me." That year, Yasmin was 20 years old and a sophomore in college. She'd been terrified, and she'd nodded with red eyes. "I understand, Mr. B." "Don't call me that!" Blake snarled. "I'm sorry. I'll be careful from now on." Yasmin's eyes were filled with sorrow as she recalled their past. She didn't hate Stuart. She knew he'd forced Blake to marry her because he wanted to protect her. It had been two years since then. Stuart was still in prison but would be released in a few years once he'd served his full sentence. "I know you're still harboring a grudge against me and my father for forcing you into this marriage. Now, I'm setting you free," she said. She despised him for cheating on her but was still grateful that he'd kept her safe for two years. Blake looked at her icily. Then, he sneered. "That stupid studio of yours isn't making a single cent. Can you really feed yourself if we get divorced?" Yasmin and Eunice had set up their own studio. It was still early days and had yet to bring in profits. "No entrepreneur makes money when they first started. It takes time. I know I'm not earning anything yet, but I'll work hard. I've graduated and grown up, Blake. I don't need your protection anymore," Yasmin said. Blake knitted his brows tightly. "So that's what it is. You want a divorce because you don't need me for anything anymore. Do you really think reality's that sweet, Yasmin? Your family forced me to marry you when they needed me. Now that you don't need me anymore, you're demanding a divorce." "I'll admit that my father made a mistake, but haven't I been atoning for his sins for the past two years? I've obeyed you at every turn. I've never gone against you. Besides, don't you want to be free? Your mistress had a baby. Don't you want to give her and your child what they deserve?" "My matters have nothing to do with you," Blake said coldly. Yasmin fell silent. Indeed, he'd never allowed her to ask about his matters. She turned to leave the room. An ugly look crept onto Blake's face as he dragged her back and pinned her to the bed. He circled her with his arms and looked down at her sharply. Yasmin was caught off guard. "What are you doing?" "You're always talking about how much you love me, right? Look at how you have to announce it every day." There was a hint of anger in his face. "Are you really willing to watch me ride into the sunset with another woman? Doesn't it upset you?" Yasmin lowered her eyes. She said softly, "Not anymore." It did upset her, but she didn't want to love him anymore. | 0 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712300400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889753 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188569 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889755 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188569 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889757 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188570 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889760 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188572 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889762 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188573 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889764 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188574 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889766 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188574 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889768 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188575 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889770 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188576 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889772 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889776 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889778 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889780 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188578 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889782 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188578 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889784 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188583 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889786 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188587 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889788 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188590 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889790 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188593 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889791 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188595 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889794 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889796 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889798 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889801 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889802 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889804 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188598 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 305392575838829 | 4 | 1.3523364125193E+15 | 1716102000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120211473983910747 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10926&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715918677 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442477258_907723381125422_5055201934113902389_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DIRQeUDxw6sQ7kNvgFDKmrN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBrZH58Pm_UBVY9g7lQ1OBUYdpf4NNoN0xHPk-SGRpeOw&oe=667E7B38 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442496116_1606871263445710_5634148219212488631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4BGTBDNyz1QQ7kNvgFtFIEB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPJ7OOwhF5P02UamA2lLjhDcP38NxAwSg0hLDkIJsSJQ&oe=667E844A | 0 | 3 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office until now. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that theyโre finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from the miscarriage lingered, even though it had been a long time since that day. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijahโs world โ his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijahโs ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized Iโd dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And thatโs when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijahโs ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. โYou remember Serena, right? She works here now.โ I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. Theyโre just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldnโt cheat on me, would he? All this time, Iโd remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. โSo why are you here?โ Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. โYour mom asked me to deliver this,โ I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didnโt. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that heโd never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. โSophia, you look shaken up. Didnโt you know Elijah hired me to work here?โ Her voice dripped with sarcasm. โApparently, we make a great team. Funny, I donโt recall seeing you here before.โ She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, โOh, right, you donโt know anything about business. You might just mess things up.โ โI take care of our home,โ I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldnโt even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, โNext time, Sophia, just contact me and Iโll have my assistant come over.โ "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijahโs secretary came in. โAlice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,โ he instructed. โJust black for Serena. No sugar.โ Serenaโs eyes lit up. โHey, you remembered!โ she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. โOf course.โ I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldnโt help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. โJoin us, Sophia,โ Serena invited with a devilish grin. โJust like how we used to hang out together in college.โ I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. โI have to go,โ I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. โIโll see you at home.โ Elijahโs expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after my miscarriage. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. Youโre the one who keeps hoping heโll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband's mom Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldnโt seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. Iโm back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained โ the papers Iโd been reviewing the night before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 Sophiaโs POV My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morganaโs voice outside. โSophia!โ she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. Thatโs when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full with disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. โElijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,โ she said with a scoff. โYou canโt even be relied on for such a simple task.โ Her words cut deep. โWhen you first came to our house carrying a baby, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,โ she continued. โThen you had a miscarriage and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, โMy son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.โ The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I donโt deserve this, I thought sourly. Itโs time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers Iโd hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. Iโve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Iโd always seemed invisible to them. Iโve been obedient, helpful, and hardworkingโฆ But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iโm nothing to him. He doesnโt love me and he never learned to. Thatโs the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or Iโll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadnโt realized Iโd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasnโt, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. โHey, playing hard to get, arenโt you?โ he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnโt have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. โWhen did Serena start working at your company?โ I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnโt stop what he was doing. โNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.โ He traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. โSerena is such a talented addition to our team,โ he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn't believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. โYou know,โ he said, oblivious to my disappointment, โshe's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.โ Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeโa kind of infatuationโthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He's probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn't want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. โWhatโs wrong with you?โ he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didnโt answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. โYouโve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought youโd snap out of it, but youโve only gotten worse. Itโs depressing to even see you.โ I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldnโt even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. โMaybe itโs because of the miscarriageโฆโ he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, โWhy donโt we just make another baby?โ I couldnโt believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didnโt understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury Iโve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesnโt get it. Or maybe he just doesnโt care. I was totally pissed off. And thatโs when I blurted it out. โI want to divorce you.โ CHAPTER 3 Sophiaโs POV I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another โ strangers whoโd been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. โI want a divorce,โ I repeated, keeping my voice steady. โIโm serious.โ Slowly he nodded. โYes, sure,โ he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. Iโm going to be free. And yet somehow, I didnโt feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth โ he never loved me at all. Heโs not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. Itโs time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. โWe should sign this,โ I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. โElijah, please,โ I whispered, making sure my voice wouldnโt break. โLet's end this.โ His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didnโt sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serenaโs name, making my heart tighten. I canโt believe this womanโs timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didnโt want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. โWhy donโt you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.โ He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings โ relief, frustration, anger, sadness. โIโm finally free,โ I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, โThe morningโs almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.โ With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. โSorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.โ Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesnโt matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. โYou know what? It's actually quite nice,โ she said, her tone almost mocking. โElijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!โ Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. Iโm done here. Iโm done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after the miscarriage, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. โLuckily I hadnโt sold it,โ I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: Bad guy Elijah! You guys just got divorced, and now heโs out partying with this whore already and flaunting her like heโs never done with you?! CHAPTER 4 Sophiaโs POV โAaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!โ Kayla hissed. โIf I had known heโd treat you like that, I wouldnโt have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldnโt have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!โ Being the daughter of Raven Mediaโs renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. โYou should have seen them at the party last night!โ she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. โThey didnโt even care that I was there! They were justโฆ Aaahhh! I really couldnโt take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!โ โOh, wow,โ I uttered in disbelief. โBut itโs over now, Kayla. Iโm doing my best to move on.โ Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. โIโm always here for you, Sophia. You know that.โ โThanks so much. Iโm really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,โ I responded with a fluttering heart. โWell, youโve always had my back even in high school. So now itโs my turn to return the favor.โ Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. Weโd hit it off at once, and the rest was history. โAnyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesnโt deserve you, Sophia,โ she went on. โSo what are you planning now?โ โWell, Iโve been giving it some thoughtโฆโ I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. โA few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in Franceโโ โYou did not!โ she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. โThis will surely be your big break!โ I laughed. โI havenโt been accepted yet, you know.โ โOh, but you will be!โ Kaylaโs enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijahโs name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kaylaโs eyes narrowed when she saw it too. โGo ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.โ As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijahโs sharp tone of voice on the other end. โYou filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!โ โWait, what do you mean?โ โYou know Iโm busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!โ Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. โIโll talk to Troy.โ โGood. Make sure he doesnโt come back again ever.โ Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldnโt speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. โSorry I have to go now, Kayla,โ I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved after Tom Bennett, my adoptive father, died. Heโd left me the original house where heโd taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. Theyโd bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. โWhat did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!โ Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. โIt was never going to work out,โ I said, trying to maintain my composure. โJust please stop bothering him. Weโve cut our ties. You canโt ask for more from him anymore.โ โOh, man!โ Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. โDid you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!โ Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. โWhen I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. Iโm guessing thereโs a third party involved! People who donโt know better would think that woman is his wife!โ I could feel my heart rate increasing. In my head, I could picture Elijah and Serena sitting very closely in the office. โSheโs the reason for your breakup, isnโt she?โ Troy said, looking smug. โI knew it! I never trusted that guy from the very beginning. Heโs probably been hooking up with different women since you got married!โ I wanted to make him shut up, but I just stood there, wanting to burst into tears. โUnfaithful jerk,โ Troy added, shaking his head in disbelief. CHAPTER 5 Sophiaโs POV My heart felt like it would explode any time now. โIt doesnโt matter,โ I eventually said to Troy. โItโs none of my business now. I donโt care what he does with that woman or with whomever.โ Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, โWeโre definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!โ โButโฆโ Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. โElijah and I are over. Besides, Iโll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijahโs wealth, then now you wonโt have any more need for me, right?โ They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. โAll thing that you swindled out of my ex-husbandโs pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,โ I went on in a steady voice. โWe donโt have to see or talk to each other ever again.โ On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this dramaโs taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadnโt fully recovered since the miscarriage. โCould you please take me to the hospital?โ I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. โAre you okay? You look like you're about to faint,โ he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. โOh, wait! Itโs you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?โ I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. โUh, Daniel?โ I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. โYes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.โ I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. โHow are you feeling now?โ Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. โA little better, but still kinda dizzy,โ I answered honestly. โThanks for the assistance, but itโs okay if you have somewhere to be. Youโve already done too much for me.โ โOh, itโs okay,โ he said with a smile. โUnless you donโt want me here.โ โItโs nothing like that, of course!โ I quickly replied. โThanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while Iโm here.โ โWell, Iโm all ears. People say Iโm a good listener.โ I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, โI donโt really know you, Danielโฆโ โYou know my name. Thatโs a start.โ His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. โI rememberโฆ Daniel Pierceโฆโ I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. โHigh school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.โ He laughed. โYouโve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too โ the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.โ I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. โYouโre joking!โ โNo, itโs trueโฆ Really! Iโm sure youโve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?โ He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. โGood-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.โ โOh.โ His expression changed immediately. โIโm sorry to hear that.โ โYou know, it's been a rough few months,โ I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. โI'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.โ Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. โAnd then there's the miscarriage I had... It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?โ He nodded in understanding. โIโm so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. Iโm sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?โ โYeah, starting anew in a foreign land,โ I answered, thinking about my application in France. โHmmโฆ sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. โIt takes courage to make such a big change.โ I smiled weakly. โActually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.โ Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. โReally? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Parisโฆโ My jaw dropped. โWhat? Iโm planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!โ He looked at me with astonishment. โWhat are the odds, huh? Looks like weโll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.โ I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. โThatโs reallyโฆ something else.โ โSurely youโll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?โ โThe Latin Quarter, of course. Iโm looking at an apartment there, since itโs where most students live.โ Daniel chuckled. โAnd it looks like weโll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.โ He gave me a lopsided grin. โWho knows? Maybe weโre destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Letโs fly together. I mean, if thatโs alright with you?โ His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. โThank you, Danielโฆโ Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. โMiss Sophia Bennett?โ she informed me. โYour test results are here.โ CHAPTER 6 Sophiaโs POV Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. โWell, Sophia,โ he began, his tone measured, โthe results are in. Congratulations to you both.โ I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. โYouโre going to be parents. Congratulations!โ the doctor added. Iโmโฆ pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. โOther than that, youโre perfectly healthy, Sophia,โ the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didnโt know what to say either. โLet me drive you home, Sophia,โ he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and Iโm supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it wonโt have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I donโt have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. Iโm so sorry, baby. Itโs just all too sudden. But I know that Iโm going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrivedโI had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a weekโs time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. โCall me when you get there!โ she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. โEverything will be okay,โ he reassured me. โI'm here. We'll do this together.โ His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, Youโre my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed pastโthe Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was itโthe start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. โLooks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,โ he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. โJust remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.โ I rolled my eyes. โI'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.โ He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. โI'm just saying, youโll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!โ I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. โOh, shut up.โ We both laughed. He added, โYou need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.โ โOh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?โ Daniel grinned. โHey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.โ I playfully nudged him. โI think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.โ He appeared pleased with that statement. โFair enough,โ he answered with a teasing smile. โBut you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.โ I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. โCome on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.โ As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. โHello.โ I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. โWho the hell is this? Where's Sophia?โ a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. "Hello?" I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allow to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715929200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889806 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188598 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 305392575838829 | 4 | 1.3523364125193E+15 | 1716102000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120211473983910747 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10926&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715918677 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442477258_907723381125422_5055201934113902389_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DIRQeUDxw6sQ7kNvgFDKmrN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBrZH58Pm_UBVY9g7lQ1OBUYdpf4NNoN0xHPk-SGRpeOw&oe=667E7B38 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442496116_1606871263445710_5634148219212488631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4BGTBDNyz1QQ7kNvgFtFIEB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPJ7OOwhF5P02UamA2lLjhDcP38NxAwSg0hLDkIJsSJQ&oe=667E844A | 0 | 3 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office until now. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that theyโre finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from the miscarriage lingered, even though it had been a long time since that day. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijahโs world โ his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijahโs ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized Iโd dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And thatโs when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijahโs ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. โYou remember Serena, right? She works here now.โ I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. Theyโre just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldnโt cheat on me, would he? All this time, Iโd remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. โSo why are you here?โ Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. โYour mom asked me to deliver this,โ I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didnโt. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that heโd never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. โSophia, you look shaken up. Didnโt you know Elijah hired me to work here?โ Her voice dripped with sarcasm. โApparently, we make a great team. Funny, I donโt recall seeing you here before.โ She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, โOh, right, you donโt know anything about business. You might just mess things up.โ โI take care of our home,โ I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldnโt even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, โNext time, Sophia, just contact me and Iโll have my assistant come over.โ "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijahโs secretary came in. โAlice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,โ he instructed. โJust black for Serena. No sugar.โ Serenaโs eyes lit up. โHey, you remembered!โ she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. โOf course.โ I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldnโt help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. โJoin us, Sophia,โ Serena invited with a devilish grin. โJust like how we used to hang out together in college.โ I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. โI have to go,โ I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. โIโll see you at home.โ Elijahโs expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after my miscarriage. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. Youโre the one who keeps hoping heโll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband's mom Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldnโt seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. Iโm back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained โ the papers Iโd been reviewing the night before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 Sophiaโs POV My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morganaโs voice outside. โSophia!โ she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. Thatโs when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full with disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. โElijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,โ she said with a scoff. โYou canโt even be relied on for such a simple task.โ Her words cut deep. โWhen you first came to our house carrying a baby, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,โ she continued. โThen you had a miscarriage and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, โMy son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.โ The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I donโt deserve this, I thought sourly. Itโs time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers Iโd hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. Iโve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Iโd always seemed invisible to them. Iโve been obedient, helpful, and hardworkingโฆ But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iโm nothing to him. He doesnโt love me and he never learned to. Thatโs the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or Iโll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadnโt realized Iโd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasnโt, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. โHey, playing hard to get, arenโt you?โ he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnโt have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. โWhen did Serena start working at your company?โ I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnโt stop what he was doing. โNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.โ He traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. โSerena is such a talented addition to our team,โ he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn't believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. โYou know,โ he said, oblivious to my disappointment, โshe's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.โ Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeโa kind of infatuationโthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He's probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn't want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. โWhatโs wrong with you?โ he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didnโt answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. โYouโve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought youโd snap out of it, but youโve only gotten worse. Itโs depressing to even see you.โ I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldnโt even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. โMaybe itโs because of the miscarriageโฆโ he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, โWhy donโt we just make another baby?โ I couldnโt believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didnโt understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury Iโve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesnโt get it. Or maybe he just doesnโt care. I was totally pissed off. And thatโs when I blurted it out. โI want to divorce you.โ CHAPTER 3 Sophiaโs POV I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another โ strangers whoโd been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. โI want a divorce,โ I repeated, keeping my voice steady. โIโm serious.โ Slowly he nodded. โYes, sure,โ he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. Iโm going to be free. And yet somehow, I didnโt feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth โ he never loved me at all. Heโs not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. Itโs time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. โWe should sign this,โ I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. โElijah, please,โ I whispered, making sure my voice wouldnโt break. โLet's end this.โ His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didnโt sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serenaโs name, making my heart tighten. I canโt believe this womanโs timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didnโt want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. โWhy donโt you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.โ He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings โ relief, frustration, anger, sadness. โIโm finally free,โ I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, โThe morningโs almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.โ With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. โSorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.โ Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesnโt matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. โYou know what? It's actually quite nice,โ she said, her tone almost mocking. โElijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!โ Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. Iโm done here. Iโm done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after the miscarriage, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. โLuckily I hadnโt sold it,โ I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: Bad guy Elijah! You guys just got divorced, and now heโs out partying with this whore already and flaunting her like heโs never done with you?! CHAPTER 4 Sophiaโs POV โAaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!โ Kayla hissed. โIf I had known heโd treat you like that, I wouldnโt have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldnโt have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!โ Being the daughter of Raven Mediaโs renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. โYou should have seen them at the party last night!โ she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. โThey didnโt even care that I was there! They were justโฆ Aaahhh! I really couldnโt take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!โ โOh, wow,โ I uttered in disbelief. โBut itโs over now, Kayla. Iโm doing my best to move on.โ Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. โIโm always here for you, Sophia. You know that.โ โThanks so much. Iโm really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,โ I responded with a fluttering heart. โWell, youโve always had my back even in high school. So now itโs my turn to return the favor.โ Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. Weโd hit it off at once, and the rest was history. โAnyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesnโt deserve you, Sophia,โ she went on. โSo what are you planning now?โ โWell, Iโve been giving it some thoughtโฆโ I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. โA few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in Franceโโ โYou did not!โ she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. โThis will surely be your big break!โ I laughed. โI havenโt been accepted yet, you know.โ โOh, but you will be!โ Kaylaโs enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijahโs name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kaylaโs eyes narrowed when she saw it too. โGo ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.โ As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijahโs sharp tone of voice on the other end. โYou filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!โ โWait, what do you mean?โ โYou know Iโm busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!โ Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. โIโll talk to Troy.โ โGood. Make sure he doesnโt come back again ever.โ Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldnโt speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. โSorry I have to go now, Kayla,โ I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved after Tom Bennett, my adoptive father, died. Heโd left me the original house where heโd taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. Theyโd bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. โWhat did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!โ Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. โIt was never going to work out,โ I said, trying to maintain my composure. โJust please stop bothering him. Weโve cut our ties. You canโt ask for more from him anymore.โ โOh, man!โ Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. โDid you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!โ Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. โWhen I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. Iโm guessing thereโs a third party involved! People who donโt know better would think that woman is his wife!โ I could feel my heart rate increasing. In my head, I could picture Elijah and Serena sitting very closely in the office. โSheโs the reason for your breakup, isnโt she?โ Troy said, looking smug. โI knew it! I never trusted that guy from the very beginning. Heโs probably been hooking up with different women since you got married!โ I wanted to make him shut up, but I just stood there, wanting to burst into tears. โUnfaithful jerk,โ Troy added, shaking his head in disbelief. CHAPTER 5 Sophiaโs POV My heart felt like it would explode any time now. โIt doesnโt matter,โ I eventually said to Troy. โItโs none of my business now. I donโt care what he does with that woman or with whomever.โ Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, โWeโre definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!โ โButโฆโ Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. โElijah and I are over. Besides, Iโll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijahโs wealth, then now you wonโt have any more need for me, right?โ They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. โAll thing that you swindled out of my ex-husbandโs pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,โ I went on in a steady voice. โWe donโt have to see or talk to each other ever again.โ On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this dramaโs taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadnโt fully recovered since the miscarriage. โCould you please take me to the hospital?โ I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. โAre you okay? You look like you're about to faint,โ he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. โOh, wait! Itโs you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?โ I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. โUh, Daniel?โ I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. โYes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.โ I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. โHow are you feeling now?โ Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. โA little better, but still kinda dizzy,โ I answered honestly. โThanks for the assistance, but itโs okay if you have somewhere to be. Youโve already done too much for me.โ โOh, itโs okay,โ he said with a smile. โUnless you donโt want me here.โ โItโs nothing like that, of course!โ I quickly replied. โThanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while Iโm here.โ โWell, Iโm all ears. People say Iโm a good listener.โ I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, โI donโt really know you, Danielโฆโ โYou know my name. Thatโs a start.โ His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. โI rememberโฆ Daniel Pierceโฆโ I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. โHigh school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.โ He laughed. โYouโve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too โ the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.โ I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. โYouโre joking!โ โNo, itโs trueโฆ Really! Iโm sure youโve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?โ He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. โGood-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.โ โOh.โ His expression changed immediately. โIโm sorry to hear that.โ โYou know, it's been a rough few months,โ I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. โI'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.โ Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. โAnd then there's the miscarriage I had... It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?โ He nodded in understanding. โIโm so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. Iโm sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?โ โYeah, starting anew in a foreign land,โ I answered, thinking about my application in France. โHmmโฆ sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. โIt takes courage to make such a big change.โ I smiled weakly. โActually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.โ Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. โReally? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Parisโฆโ My jaw dropped. โWhat? Iโm planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!โ He looked at me with astonishment. โWhat are the odds, huh? Looks like weโll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.โ I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. โThatโs reallyโฆ something else.โ โSurely youโll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?โ โThe Latin Quarter, of course. Iโm looking at an apartment there, since itโs where most students live.โ Daniel chuckled. โAnd it looks like weโll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.โ He gave me a lopsided grin. โWho knows? Maybe weโre destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Letโs fly together. I mean, if thatโs alright with you?โ His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. โThank you, Danielโฆโ Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. โMiss Sophia Bennett?โ she informed me. โYour test results are here.โ CHAPTER 6 Sophiaโs POV Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. โWell, Sophia,โ he began, his tone measured, โthe results are in. Congratulations to you both.โ I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. โYouโre going to be parents. Congratulations!โ the doctor added. Iโmโฆ pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. โOther than that, youโre perfectly healthy, Sophia,โ the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didnโt know what to say either. โLet me drive you home, Sophia,โ he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and Iโm supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it wonโt have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I donโt have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. Iโm so sorry, baby. Itโs just all too sudden. But I know that Iโm going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrivedโI had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a weekโs time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. โCall me when you get there!โ she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. โEverything will be okay,โ he reassured me. โI'm here. We'll do this together.โ His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, Youโre my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed pastโthe Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was itโthe start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. โLooks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,โ he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. โJust remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.โ I rolled my eyes. โI'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.โ He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. โI'm just saying, youโll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!โ I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. โOh, shut up.โ We both laughed. He added, โYou need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.โ โOh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?โ Daniel grinned. โHey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.โ I playfully nudged him. โI think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.โ He appeared pleased with that statement. โFair enough,โ he answered with a teasing smile. โBut you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.โ I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. โCome on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.โ As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. โHello.โ I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. โWho the hell is this? Where's Sophia?โ a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. "Hello?" I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allow to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715929200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889808 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188598 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 305392575838829 | 4 | 1.3523364125193E+15 | 1716102000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120211473983910747 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10926&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715918677 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442477258_907723381125422_5055201934113902389_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DIRQeUDxw6sQ7kNvgFDKmrN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBrZH58Pm_UBVY9g7lQ1OBUYdpf4NNoN0xHPk-SGRpeOw&oe=667E7B38 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442496116_1606871263445710_5634148219212488631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4BGTBDNyz1QQ7kNvgFtFIEB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPJ7OOwhF5P02UamA2lLjhDcP38NxAwSg0hLDkIJsSJQ&oe=667E844A | 0 | 3 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office until now. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that theyโre finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from the miscarriage lingered, even though it had been a long time since that day. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijahโs world โ his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijahโs ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized Iโd dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And thatโs when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijahโs ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. โYou remember Serena, right? She works here now.โ I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. Theyโre just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldnโt cheat on me, would he? All this time, Iโd remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. โSo why are you here?โ Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. โYour mom asked me to deliver this,โ I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didnโt. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that heโd never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. โSophia, you look shaken up. Didnโt you know Elijah hired me to work here?โ Her voice dripped with sarcasm. โApparently, we make a great team. Funny, I donโt recall seeing you here before.โ She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, โOh, right, you donโt know anything about business. You might just mess things up.โ โI take care of our home,โ I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldnโt even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, โNext time, Sophia, just contact me and Iโll have my assistant come over.โ "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijahโs secretary came in. โAlice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,โ he instructed. โJust black for Serena. No sugar.โ Serenaโs eyes lit up. โHey, you remembered!โ she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. โOf course.โ I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldnโt help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. โJoin us, Sophia,โ Serena invited with a devilish grin. โJust like how we used to hang out together in college.โ I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. โI have to go,โ I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. โIโll see you at home.โ Elijahโs expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after my miscarriage. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. Youโre the one who keeps hoping heโll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband's mom Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldnโt seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. Iโm back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained โ the papers Iโd been reviewing the night before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 Sophiaโs POV My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morganaโs voice outside. โSophia!โ she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. Thatโs when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full with disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. โElijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,โ she said with a scoff. โYou canโt even be relied on for such a simple task.โ Her words cut deep. โWhen you first came to our house carrying a baby, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,โ she continued. โThen you had a miscarriage and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, โMy son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.โ The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I donโt deserve this, I thought sourly. Itโs time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers Iโd hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. Iโve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Iโd always seemed invisible to them. Iโve been obedient, helpful, and hardworkingโฆ But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iโm nothing to him. He doesnโt love me and he never learned to. Thatโs the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or Iโll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadnโt realized Iโd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasnโt, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. โHey, playing hard to get, arenโt you?โ he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnโt have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. โWhen did Serena start working at your company?โ I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnโt stop what he was doing. โNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.โ He traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. โSerena is such a talented addition to our team,โ he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn't believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. โYou know,โ he said, oblivious to my disappointment, โshe's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.โ Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeโa kind of infatuationโthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He's probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn't want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. โWhatโs wrong with you?โ he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didnโt answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. โYouโve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought youโd snap out of it, but youโve only gotten worse. Itโs depressing to even see you.โ I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldnโt even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. โMaybe itโs because of the miscarriageโฆโ he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, โWhy donโt we just make another baby?โ I couldnโt believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didnโt understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury Iโve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesnโt get it. Or maybe he just doesnโt care. I was totally pissed off. And thatโs when I blurted it out. โI want to divorce you.โ CHAPTER 3 Sophiaโs POV I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another โ strangers whoโd been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. โI want a divorce,โ I repeated, keeping my voice steady. โIโm serious.โ Slowly he nodded. โYes, sure,โ he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. Iโm going to be free. And yet somehow, I didnโt feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth โ he never loved me at all. Heโs not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. Itโs time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. โWe should sign this,โ I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. โElijah, please,โ I whispered, making sure my voice wouldnโt break. โLet's end this.โ His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didnโt sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serenaโs name, making my heart tighten. I canโt believe this womanโs timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didnโt want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. โWhy donโt you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.โ He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings โ relief, frustration, anger, sadness. โIโm finally free,โ I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, โThe morningโs almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.โ With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. โSorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.โ Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesnโt matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. โYou know what? It's actually quite nice,โ she said, her tone almost mocking. โElijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!โ Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. Iโm done here. Iโm done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after the miscarriage, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. โLuckily I hadnโt sold it,โ I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: Bad guy Elijah! You guys just got divorced, and now heโs out partying with this whore already and flaunting her like heโs never done with you?! CHAPTER 4 Sophiaโs POV โAaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!โ Kayla hissed. โIf I had known heโd treat you like that, I wouldnโt have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldnโt have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!โ Being the daughter of Raven Mediaโs renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. โYou should have seen them at the party last night!โ she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. โThey didnโt even care that I was there! They were justโฆ Aaahhh! I really couldnโt take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!โ โOh, wow,โ I uttered in disbelief. โBut itโs over now, Kayla. Iโm doing my best to move on.โ Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. โIโm always here for you, Sophia. You know that.โ โThanks so much. Iโm really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,โ I responded with a fluttering heart. โWell, youโve always had my back even in high school. So now itโs my turn to return the favor.โ Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. Weโd hit it off at once, and the rest was history. โAnyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesnโt deserve you, Sophia,โ she went on. โSo what are you planning now?โ โWell, Iโve been giving it some thoughtโฆโ I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. โA few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in Franceโโ โYou did not!โ she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. โThis will surely be your big break!โ I laughed. โI havenโt been accepted yet, you know.โ โOh, but you will be!โ Kaylaโs enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijahโs name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kaylaโs eyes narrowed when she saw it too. โGo ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.โ As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijahโs sharp tone of voice on the other end. โYou filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!โ โWait, what do you mean?โ โYou know Iโm busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!โ Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. โIโll talk to Troy.โ โGood. Make sure he doesnโt come back again ever.โ Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldnโt speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. โSorry I have to go now, Kayla,โ I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved after Tom Bennett, my adoptive father, died. Heโd left me the original house where heโd taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. Theyโd bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. โWhat did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!โ Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. โIt was never going to work out,โ I said, trying to maintain my composure. โJust please stop bothering him. Weโve cut our ties. You canโt ask for more from him anymore.โ โOh, man!โ Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. โDid you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!โ Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. โWhen I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. Iโm guessing thereโs a third party involved! People who donโt know better would think that woman is his wife!โ I could feel my heart rate increasing. In my head, I could picture Elijah and Serena sitting very closely in the office. โSheโs the reason for your breakup, isnโt she?โ Troy said, looking smug. โI knew it! I never trusted that guy from the very beginning. Heโs probably been hooking up with different women since you got married!โ I wanted to make him shut up, but I just stood there, wanting to burst into tears. โUnfaithful jerk,โ Troy added, shaking his head in disbelief. CHAPTER 5 Sophiaโs POV My heart felt like it would explode any time now. โIt doesnโt matter,โ I eventually said to Troy. โItโs none of my business now. I donโt care what he does with that woman or with whomever.โ Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, โWeโre definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!โ โButโฆโ Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. โElijah and I are over. Besides, Iโll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijahโs wealth, then now you wonโt have any more need for me, right?โ They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. โAll thing that you swindled out of my ex-husbandโs pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,โ I went on in a steady voice. โWe donโt have to see or talk to each other ever again.โ On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this dramaโs taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadnโt fully recovered since the miscarriage. โCould you please take me to the hospital?โ I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. โAre you okay? You look like you're about to faint,โ he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. โOh, wait! Itโs you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?โ I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. โUh, Daniel?โ I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. โYes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.โ I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. โHow are you feeling now?โ Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. โA little better, but still kinda dizzy,โ I answered honestly. โThanks for the assistance, but itโs okay if you have somewhere to be. Youโve already done too much for me.โ โOh, itโs okay,โ he said with a smile. โUnless you donโt want me here.โ โItโs nothing like that, of course!โ I quickly replied. โThanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while Iโm here.โ โWell, Iโm all ears. People say Iโm a good listener.โ I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, โI donโt really know you, Danielโฆโ โYou know my name. Thatโs a start.โ His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. โI rememberโฆ Daniel Pierceโฆโ I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. โHigh school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.โ He laughed. โYouโve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too โ the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.โ I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. โYouโre joking!โ โNo, itโs trueโฆ Really! Iโm sure youโve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?โ He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. โGood-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.โ โOh.โ His expression changed immediately. โIโm sorry to hear that.โ โYou know, it's been a rough few months,โ I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. โI'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.โ Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. โAnd then there's the miscarriage I had... It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?โ He nodded in understanding. โIโm so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. Iโm sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?โ โYeah, starting anew in a foreign land,โ I answered, thinking about my application in France. โHmmโฆ sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. โIt takes courage to make such a big change.โ I smiled weakly. โActually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.โ Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. โReally? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Parisโฆโ My jaw dropped. โWhat? Iโm planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!โ He looked at me with astonishment. โWhat are the odds, huh? Looks like weโll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.โ I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. โThatโs reallyโฆ something else.โ โSurely youโll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?โ โThe Latin Quarter, of course. Iโm looking at an apartment there, since itโs where most students live.โ Daniel chuckled. โAnd it looks like weโll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.โ He gave me a lopsided grin. โWho knows? Maybe weโre destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Letโs fly together. I mean, if thatโs alright with you?โ His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. โThank you, Danielโฆโ Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. โMiss Sophia Bennett?โ she informed me. โYour test results are here.โ CHAPTER 6 Sophiaโs POV Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. โWell, Sophia,โ he began, his tone measured, โthe results are in. Congratulations to you both.โ I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. โYouโre going to be parents. Congratulations!โ the doctor added. Iโmโฆ pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. โOther than that, youโre perfectly healthy, Sophia,โ the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didnโt know what to say either. โLet me drive you home, Sophia,โ he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and Iโm supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it wonโt have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I donโt have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. Iโm so sorry, baby. Itโs just all too sudden. But I know that Iโm going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrivedโI had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a weekโs time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. โCall me when you get there!โ she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. โEverything will be okay,โ he reassured me. โI'm here. We'll do this together.โ His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, Youโre my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed pastโthe Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was itโthe start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. โLooks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,โ he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. โJust remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.โ I rolled my eyes. โI'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.โ He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. โI'm just saying, youโll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!โ I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. โOh, shut up.โ We both laughed. He added, โYou need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.โ โOh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?โ Daniel grinned. โHey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.โ I playfully nudged him. โI think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.โ He appeared pleased with that statement. โFair enough,โ he answered with a teasing smile. โBut you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.โ I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. โCome on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.โ As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. โHello.โ I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. โWho the hell is this? Where's Sophia?โ a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. "Hello?" I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allow to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715929200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889810 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188600 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889812 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188602 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889814 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188604 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889816 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188606 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889818 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188607 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889821 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889822 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889824 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889826 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889830 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889834 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889836 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678825 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889838 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889842 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188610 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889844 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188610 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889846 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188610 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889848 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188611 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889850 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188611 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889852 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188611 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889856 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889858 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889859 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889868 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 404984015794397 | 2 | 4.0092569606593E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114655308901931 | 0 | WhiteWater Express Car Wash | 120210640543780771 | whitewater.app.rinsed.co | Get promotions | NONE | dco | Sign Up & Save | Receive offers & more! | https://whitewater.app.rinsed.co/contact_forms/1129?iframe=true | 1710277312 | 1.1465530890193E+14 | WhiteWater Express Car Wash | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431490603_1194048281759124_6958000209644309342_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=01XSqYfF_jEQ7kNvgG-fs0j&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAro6cWqAYerKILK8QWyIk_cvIrnPUcvg9M4PcyCevrFQ&oe=667E7EFA | person_profile | 0 | WhiteWater Express Car Wash | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431180391_963407744630388_7627149427553678652_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VmxBgg9Y554Q7kNvgE2MErS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAt-3VSuB-UShLEfb0NVe7PpQ3XQy8FY3Xsd6-80PwY7Q&oe=667E9584 | 0 | 3 | We are OPEN! Enjoy our washes plus always FREE amenities with every wash! Sign up for a โจFREEโจ car wash & be the first to know about offers, updates, & more. Don't miss outโstay in the know at #WhiteWaterExpress! | WhiteWater Express Car Wash | 26448 | https://facebook.com/Whitewaterexpresscarwash | 0 | GET_PROMOTIONS | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888862 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188463 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 477942217919342 | 5 | 7.9330905624098E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 110757928736038 | 0 | HappyMe's | 120208390565450724 | norvure.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Let Your Pup Roam Safely With This Tie Out Stake | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/tanglefree%E2%84%A2-360-swivel-dog-tie-out-stake | 1715049493 | 1.1075792873604E+14 | HappyMe's | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440410296_320816604184579_4382935421732099458_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5HY2G9nCP2wQ7kNvgGwng_x&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBF59ouSRtKMeFNDrZyju0pNbdnLQ62P0ZTlW9IZLGe6w&oe=667E8B3C | person_profile | 0 | HappyMe's | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438118318_3775657095983445_6022554941443760618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7AWB4rwmlOwQ7kNvgGlYABF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYuzHd-bDhxBbfIL10WUQb9GjssaOvJV8O57x0LxO_lA&oe=667E78D2 | 0 | 3 | ๐พ Give your furry friend the freedom to explore without tangles! TangleFreeโข 360ยฐ Swivel Dog Tie-Out Stake ensures your pet's safety and your peace of mind during outdoor playtime.<br /> <br /> ๐ Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight | HappyMe's | 4240 | https://facebook.com/100094368992659 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1715065200 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888867 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188463 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 752205173483927 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 104992632509232 | 0 | HeartlyLove | 120209492983700724 | norvure.com | Shop now | NONE | image | SolarGuardโข 4 in 1 Bug Zapper - 40% Off Until Midnight | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/solarguard%E2%84%A2-bug-zapper-your-ultimate-shield-against-bugs | 1718171000 | 1.0499263250923E+14 | HeartlyLove | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448307083_1149348066116855_4280985484339892401_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DqSG_-UJKs4Q7kNvgGs-6Qm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD7vjd_KzTmhGY49Ijtyy5MdQVGXfv1mf1unsKA74B0Kw&oe=667E82C0 | person_profile | 0 | HeartlyLove | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448317790_763491415997622_2574634996763429445_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KwWHv9Xuc4IQ7kNvgHWNAWF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBvf0gwvDECSal7SDKSuBjZEw78NLdVo3ZGOSYfa9uNCA&oe=667E7802 | 0 | 3 | ๐ฆ Transform your outdoor experience with the Norvure SolarGuardโข Bug Zapper.<br /> <br /> ๐ Enjoy advanced solar and USB charging with a robust 4000mAh battery for long-lasting protection.<br /> <br /> ๐ก Eliminate mosquitoes, flies, and gnats instantly with a 360ยฐ UV light and 4200V enhanced voltage.<br /> <br /> ๐ Multi-functional design serves as a bug zapper, lighting lamp, and dynamic atmosphere light.<br /> <br /> โก๏ธ Smart control technology with dusk-to-dawn sensor for hassle-free operation.<br /> <br /> ๐ Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight! | HeartlyLove | 739 | https://facebook.com/100089641703840 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888868 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188463 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 817341567158350 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 110757928736038 | 0 | HappyMe's | 120209490346210724 | norvure.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Full Body Waist Cooling Fan | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/coolify%E2%84%A2-zone-2-waist-cooling-fan | 1718160841 | 1.1075792873604E+14 | HappyMe's | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448210461_948055953764098_8748727276296960046_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AfKt-HJoA14Q7kNvgE_5Vrw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDFNSZXU78ewGFyibH7nN26PzmSB78uRqXy5YpFG34cAQ&oe=667E8B99 | person_profile | 0 | HappyMe's | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448332557_980738940036692_8381268428437280337_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OXUxAG827ZIQ7kNvgHYEMki&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3dNgOv-lC9Q89stwY7EOjzQFNsLE9w-iGP72AT0ZUwQ&oe=667EA0E7 | 0 | 3 | โ๏ธ Stay cool and comfortable this summer with the Norvure Coolifyโข Zone 2 Waist Cooling Fan.<br /> <br /> ๐ Experience superior cooling power with its ultra-wide angle air outlet, delivering impressive airflow from head to waist.<br /> <br /> ๐ Enjoy up to 15 hours of continuous cooling with the robust 5000mAh battery and 20W fast charging.<br /> <br /> ๐ฟ Benefit from advanced PCM cooling material that absorbs and dissipates body heat effectively.<br /> <br /> ๐ Designed for hands-free convenience with two different-sized belts for a perfect fit.<br /> <br /> ๐ Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight! | HappyMe's | 4240 | https://facebook.com/100094368992659 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888883 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888885 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888887 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888889 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888892 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 624461703169271 | 1 | 4.3310230580463E+14 | 1711177200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101479542560743 | 0 | ConsumerSafe.com | 120205741070030259 | contact.consumersafe.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | See If You Qualify | They set aside $4.5 billion... | https://contact.consumersafe.com/roundup/ | 1710166508 | 1.0147954256074E+14 | ConsumerSafe.com | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431615458_770690081512177_3495676478623739503_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LibXk-a-BNwQ7kNvgHrD7QJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQ1pJjaN-4AuEA2sWUWD7W6KqKwflJ-F-k9gJW87o2_A&oe=667E7785 | person_profile | 0 | Consumersafe.com | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431770947_782259450625980_2788408335447563369_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZKQbRj2R4EIQ7kNvgFPGmCa&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCrOkUpVDwGYv1UYtP45w7kgZvHEghedrpkiDj6PK7rlA&oe=667E7A69 | 0 | 3 | Roundup weedkiller has been linked to Non-Hodgkinโs Lymphoma. If you or someone you know used Roundup and was later diagnosed with Non-Hodgkinโs Lymphoma, you could be eligible to receive significant compensation as part of a settlement. Click to learn more and see if you qualify. | ConsumerSafe.com | 1603 | https://facebook.com/consumersafedotcom | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1710140400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888893 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 624461703169271 | 1 | 4.3310230580463E+14 | 1711177200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101479542560743 | 0 | ConsumerSafe.com | 120205741070030259 | contact.consumersafe.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | See If You Qualify | They set aside $4.5 billion... | https://contact.consumersafe.com/roundup/ | 1710166508 | 1.0147954256074E+14 | ConsumerSafe.com | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431615458_770690081512177_3495676478623739503_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LibXk-a-BNwQ7kNvgHrD7QJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQ1pJjaN-4AuEA2sWUWD7W6KqKwflJ-F-k9gJW87o2_A&oe=667E7785 | person_profile | 0 | Consumersafe.com | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431770947_782259450625980_2788408335447563369_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZKQbRj2R4EIQ7kNvgFPGmCa&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCrOkUpVDwGYv1UYtP45w7kgZvHEghedrpkiDj6PK7rlA&oe=667E7A69 | 0 | 3 | Roundup weedkiller has been linked to Non-Hodgkinโs Lymphoma. If you or someone you know used Roundup and was later diagnosed with Non-Hodgkinโs Lymphoma, you could be eligible to receive significant compensation as part of a settlement. Click to learn more and see if you qualify. | ConsumerSafe.com | 1603 | https://facebook.com/consumersafedotcom | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1710140400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888891 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 624461703169271 | 1 | 4.3310230580463E+14 | 1711177200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101479542560743 | 0 | ConsumerSafe.com | 120205741070030259 | contact.consumersafe.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | See If You Qualify | They set aside $4.5 billion... | https://contact.consumersafe.com/roundup/ | 1710166508 | 1.0147954256074E+14 | ConsumerSafe.com | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431615458_770690081512177_3495676478623739503_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LibXk-a-BNwQ7kNvgHrD7QJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQ1pJjaN-4AuEA2sWUWD7W6KqKwflJ-F-k9gJW87o2_A&oe=667E7785 | person_profile | 0 | Consumersafe.com | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431770947_782259450625980_2788408335447563369_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZKQbRj2R4EIQ7kNvgFPGmCa&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCrOkUpVDwGYv1UYtP45w7kgZvHEghedrpkiDj6PK7rlA&oe=667E7A69 | 0 | 3 | Roundup weedkiller has been linked to Non-Hodgkinโs Lymphoma. If you or someone you know used Roundup and was later diagnosed with Non-Hodgkinโs Lymphoma, you could be eligible to receive significant compensation as part of a settlement. Click to learn more and see if you qualify. | ConsumerSafe.com | 1603 | https://facebook.com/consumersafedotcom | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1710140400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888894 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 291958790652671 | 5 | 1.1673076476229E+15 | 1716706800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 106230892147834 | 0 | Wahooly | 120208392486660620 | shopwahooly.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://shopwahooly.com/products/auto-tracking-phone-holder | 1716120664 | 1.0623089214783E+14 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441550888_1499627580626532_1414101930248845522_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9UW6QXWwW9gQ7kNvgH9tU8_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBE1_Ul340918G3jMRqHpGKHex6e9f_9fgfb3o2sfrwkg&oe=667E9237 | person_profile | 0 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441604688_8032235373454880_6938820003090827366_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=h9gyUzmmGMQQ7kNvgH-qMv9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC37Ig6Wbu9SS6K3cNJ3VHZcHFhb_nbSMFWLW3FR7R7qQ&oe=667E960E | 0 | 3 | Capture perfect selfies every time with our Auto Tracking Phone Holder โ stay in the frame effortlessly! ๐ธ | Wahooly | 71 | https://facebook.com/Wahoooly | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1716534000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888900 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 972679340901539 | 7 | 1.2064298805452E+15 | 1716102000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 106230892147834 | 0 | Wahooly | 120208293656010620 | shopwahooly.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://shopwahooly.com/products/ice-mist-fan | 1715875867 | 1.0623089214783E+14 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442468372_1004831011071640_25202267722090086_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0ho19vJVwQAQ7kNvgGcTNYz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCeyCUfebkjCTEC0PWWY4c91ARYjJ-tL4FMq7Mog2jjAg&oe=667E9FC1 | person_profile | 0 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441307918_1164651814718579_1326818427859314245_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=AhMUG_izq2MQ7kNvgEZ8wSz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjXGKtnsLAvaFnDQncpbzkeGNnm8LtuzxWNrq25EZH0g&oe=667EA25A | 0 | 3 | Beat the heat and purify your air with the Ice Mist Fanโyour ultimate 3-in-1 cooling companion! โ๏ธ๐ | Wahooly | 71 | https://facebook.com/Wahoooly | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1715842800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888901 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 364773666547126 | 3 | 1.4503721990179E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205440160240685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/spray-water-bottle | 1711385222 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434184238_1072920160456235_24173197660041531_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3s9p2nSz2DcQ7kNvgGGkznn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDBywpR17krihYUxh8BIGvtohvIWoXGd5WIkkntqEsVuQ&oe=667E8318 | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434367076_1410016319635911_4146421580755421988_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LcyXrF7kZhoQ7kNvgG9sPSB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDwZw21KO8-0Km6wL4jwVE-Gns7P8ozVvtJgfQfZLU2qA&oe=667EA0AC | 0 | 3 | Sip, spray, and stay refreshed on the move with the stylish 700ml Spray Water Bottle, your ultimate hydration companion! ๐ฆ๐ | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1716102000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888902 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 394130523355596 | 8 | 4.2000040740374E+14 | 1714978800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205439692940685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/desktop-punching-bag | 1711384150 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433120299_795955522568787_797613211419689399_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nR8F_O1874cQ7kNvgF77Xnd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCdTyCWBNpNqCTuQ_e3po1lI-ykqvYW3XIReGELOhaO_g&oe=667EA7D4 | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433238851_786110366774651_8097829806032811625_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WpzBxQElqvEQ7kNvgEBfa3d&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCRi2rLhDZBAlANLwX7jJldG84Kbe1u-BV4Rxb0hzhwpg&oe=667E9816 | 0 | 3 | Knock out stress with a swing โ the Desktop Punching Bag for your daily dose of fitness and fun right at your desk! ๐ฅ | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1714892400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888903 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 395942533186562 | 6 | 1.1253808420402E+15 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205440052460685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/adjustable-squat-blocks | 1711385052 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434558423_799224488763855_375982975789020658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GGJjtLkoRK8Q7kNvgF4sVxz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYATh21WkI5Z1o5g3eeTlE6nIPZikXV8NyyskokHeBrObA&oe=667E9223 | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433175380_757940223099853_1695113958356397612_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=62YQl82r5BkQ7kNvgGVTDHJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBJa2FJlGTXFrhcIsodM9IjugRSAWph-gLazTmUeoY7GA&oe=667E9F70 | 0 | 3 | Raise the bar on your squats and deadlifts with the Adjustable Squat Block โ custom stability for peak performance! ๐๏ธโโ๏ธ | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1715842800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888904 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 433697319024398 | 6 | 1.6550246085646E+15 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205439851020685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/boxing-resistance-bands | 1711384631 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431574138_333371179735017_6865493517643319687_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mjzUIPa-bNQQ7kNvgHkEUiQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYATUZUn_yLloDlpNGmRdcO4ODOajLK9HOMJ6jN2iZOkKw&oe=667EA93D | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434017644_1862051540904358_4679136093091877076_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=iPiE0dHcvG0Q7kNvgEI-snv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC8CHrw7_DGXwqp7e9TNW9mQUMtkVT7CyQ9t7UCMh8j8w&oe=667E7F4C | 0 | 3 | Boost your athletic edge with Boxing Resistance Bands โ train for power, strength, and agility, and be the champion you're meant to be! ๐ฅ | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888906 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 449478417694021 | 3 | 4.9046416010272E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 222894657578380 | 0 | Ortho Shoppe | 120208414560860187 | theorthoshoppe.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://theorthoshoppe.com/products/electric-heating-pad | 1717860931 | 2.2289465757838E+14 | Ortho Shoppe | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447983739_1375056756493660_8519104458733620170_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VqVO0d_ZDd0Q7kNvgEn9t0H&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDwoOC5DEjCaKC_uKbWIOfAEiPQH_2XW5a8iY6XK52r2Q&oe=667E7FF0 | person_profile | 0 | TheOrthoShoppe | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447681240_1620738878715427_4513172613760796259_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PDzy4MAVo8EQ7kNvgFNmenB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBh9hHHQcETAdQBpEm8ZUTjzJ0whnjTfNa-53mGKva6NQ&oe=667E9CC4 | 0 | 3 | Say goodbye to cramps and back pain with our customizable Electric Heating Padโyour perfect winter companion! ๐ | Ortho Shoppe | 8 | https://facebook.com/theorthoshoppes | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888907 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 730261222590017 | 6 | 7.2548876299288E+14 | 1713769200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205439173170685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/massage-hook | 1711383319 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433123906_955377466034851_3980822897028520513_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nsH4vVpQzYYQ7kNvgHZpdSU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBKuPgXLV4j1kCB65Vn22yDJS26SlMe3XRZTzLd6qocHw&oe=667E7242 | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434281725_25737010635886282_2450402894438612038_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rk6LIxZQN24Q7kNvgElfN58&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCTSzeTmGTJ8dSlO46VniwhvzCVdB1boOICK1UehXGXvw&oe=667E803C | 0 | 3 | Unwind in comfort with the Massage Hook โ Your at-home solution for deep relaxation and pain relief ๐ฟ | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1713682800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888908 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 755605570118979 | 6 | 1.3956303911515E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 222894657578380 | 0 | Ortho Shoppe | 120208414657620187 | theorthoshoppe.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://theorthoshoppe.com/products/compression-knee-support | 1717861324 | 2.2289465757838E+14 | Ortho Shoppe | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447994110_406700565696023_1163528998048665032_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qe9QZUyAwgkQ7kNvgGPXr8-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhCiUc-r0X8n0BVDYH8R6p9f35qXFRh75hAaxsLugO4A&oe=667E8983 | person_profile | 0 | TheOrthoShoppe | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447833160_430875943080616_3752944757941698893_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qKhyyo1iDrIQ7kNvgFw-B1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCWeHpSl8zd-EV8dLfleDQmCksNGA7nV8knOwrU0BJe6g&oe=667EA2CE | 0 | 3 | Push your limits and conquer your workouts with the ultimate Compression Knee Supportโperfect for pain relief and joint recovery! ๐ช | Ortho Shoppe | 8 | https://facebook.com/theorthoshoppes | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888909 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 782274500640529 | 2 | 1.1645754482978E+15 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 222894657578380 | 0 | Ortho Shoppe | 120208414681460187 | theorthoshoppe.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://theorthoshoppe.com/products/foot-massage-roller | 1717861406 | 2.2289465757838E+14 | Ortho Shoppe | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447893074_7568467296594324_6370906097967191307_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Enbh9ickTNsQ7kNvgGRIS0q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYABDPKyn3ijBIVjFb5Oz1Y43_fQFB_aFrbLws9H8NT4Iw&oe=667E7424 | person_profile | 0 | TheOrthoShoppe | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447804666_475270144886196_4703503998021468795_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=St57fhT5lW4Q7kNvgH0owNk&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAO8LAGYFv6JlfCEWUQe_lvkV0MrEY3N4b6qNuHv2Iacg&oe=667E7E32 | 0 | 3 | Soothe your feet and melt away pain with the Foot Massage Rollerโyour essential self-care companion! ๐ | Ortho Shoppe | 8 | https://facebook.com/theorthoshoppes | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888910 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 782761196703175 | 5 | 3.5342400771126E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205438995860685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/waist-twisting-disc | 1711382962 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433479221_420110183937191_478106752442852752_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mahLnuskWzkQ7kNvgHDFbVL&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAUAzcuqgc9DlTGhUS1hYWRAwi3oTd95FDygKG2iyCEyA&oe=667E89BF | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433490542_7094954960616616_7004627976478776710_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JBYROVNLBGQQ7kNvgEAdOgX&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB9gHQdt6YrsMyxjuSByGwM4yIPQkq_MDTYuAH__oixnw&oe=667EA142 | 0 | 3 | Spin into shape with the Waist Twisting Disc โ Fun meets fitness with a twist of magnetic magic for balance and core strength! | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1713423600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888916 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 1111542586591821 | 2 | 3.9518835014886E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211339460233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167732 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445370170_939571347949573_7395819333494214654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ja83kQC0H8sQ7kNvgHl7dUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDFF4QFe4fiiUy8PKma5Hh2OYTHQl-oWJ85LDVUwJnRJw&oe=667E758D | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235337_478825357922824_3831513101680749515_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xpViHHsNlV4Q7kNvgGwJagF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAzw6Vc-P8qG-evt6tHjkkO2fOfP4nbUnOoMnmaKK10ng&oe=667EA1F8 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888912 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 940233510969718 | 4 | 4.299501528349E+14 | 1711350000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205339917860685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/breathing-trainer | 1711115126 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/409159508_909907801139692_4675947778815173690_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Xyne53QWOmoQ7kNvgFg3BRi&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCXTfsJZNb-FOqn-jdxuzVsPMMmLyVlva6LWhtqu1pJyw&oe=667E7483 | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434199605_1355640305829901_533890186268236937_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mUNBLTcRHLgQ7kNvgE0CekE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC51xdLW-rXpShCzbnSP1mj8d4Y_-SZqGtHbGb8zJ-A3A&oe=667E9C2B | 0 | 3 | Boost your lungs, boost your performance! Get the portable Breathing Trainer for peak fitness. ๐๏ธโโ๏ธ | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1711090800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888913 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 949006196933375 | 4 | 1.8474876090456E+15 | 1713682800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 112869771908331 | 0 | FurHaven | 120210839648410237 | furhaven.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://furhaven.co/products/crawling-crab-learning-toy-for-infants | 1712927784 | 1.1286977190833E+14 | FurHaven | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435172890_810174554464881_3840244123437137377_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=45jhmZyYyq8Q7kNvgHsP0vn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBKByMLAFT4K6sfBqw2iMrnvJrlKbnfLrgIf7X9kryUVg&oe=667E76FB | person_profile | 0 | Fur Haven | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435199818_978593933935320_2431553962050734042_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9YPZ4orZtVcQ7kNvgGdRKoR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAc7bZygJl0DfCOX-tE0tQ4SvUJcCEIagnWdCeCEsIAUA&oe=667E73BC | 0 | 3 | Make playtime a developmental dance with the Crawling Crabโwhere every giggle is a step towards growth! ๐ฆ | FurHaven | 42 | https://facebook.com/FurHavenn | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1713510000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888914 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 1454863848475764 | 4 | 4.0207777608654E+14 | 1713250800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 101065786425886 | 0 | Fit Fusion Hub | 120205340382510685 | fitfusionhub.co | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://fitfusionhub.co/products/elastic-pull-rope | 1711116410 | 1.0106578642589E+14 | Fit Fusion Hub | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433685284_230951176767937_5577598456174420825_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xGJE5wFoLKkQ7kNvgG4Ybwu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBQsLUwtqZZdVSKHRwFt6IK9fi7lUQmqbxk31RSFdW3Sg&oe=667E8E46 | person_profile | 0 | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433673307_964959445189060_119075567916080744_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=myVH2GXGDXEQ7kNvgF3W-gz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD5gLpO_y9HkTvxjn0v4MKc3jbgeLxpn4oWkyFAa22-PQ&oe=667E9B9E | 0 | 3 | Unlock a full-body workout anytime, anywhere with the Elastic Pull Ropeโyour go-to for fitness flexibility! ๐ช๐ ๐ | Fit Fusion Hub | 54 | https://facebook.com/fitfusionhub | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888918 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 1111542586591821 | 2 | 3.9518835014886E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211339460233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167732 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445370170_939571347949573_7395819333494214654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ja83kQC0H8sQ7kNvgHl7dUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDFF4QFe4fiiUy8PKma5Hh2OYTHQl-oWJ85LDVUwJnRJw&oe=667E758D | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235337_478825357922824_3831513101680749515_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xpViHHsNlV4Q7kNvgGwJagF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAzw6Vc-P8qG-evt6tHjkkO2fOfP4nbUnOoMnmaKK10ng&oe=667EA1F8 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888920 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 1605179996693847 | 1 | 8.2374082252888E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211357610233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167747 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447216330_1013646530491723_6471114213187782855_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KVndXj0CZdMQ7kNvgGS1gSh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK3gWCcVbm6LRvU3N0d4VOT7P4PfpzkvlzWo_R8Kgojg&oe=667E998E | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447306763_437503968996030_3535214343164963730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bBMEvrHnkDAQ7kNvgEKl6bm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAK9ptCEakPZY0zeHZvxrCwY3IVOV9_MF-V0G2T77UV1w&oe=667EA088 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888921 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 1605179996693847 | 1 | 8.2374082252888E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211357610233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167747 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447216330_1013646530491723_6471114213187782855_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KVndXj0CZdMQ7kNvgGS1gSh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK3gWCcVbm6LRvU3N0d4VOT7P4PfpzkvlzWo_R8Kgojg&oe=667E998E | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447306763_437503968996030_3535214343164963730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bBMEvrHnkDAQ7kNvgEKl6bm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAK9ptCEakPZY0zeHZvxrCwY3IVOV9_MF-V0G2T77UV1w&oe=667EA088 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888923 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 1605179996693847 | 1 | 8.2374082252888E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211357610233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167747 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447216330_1013646530491723_6471114213187782855_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KVndXj0CZdMQ7kNvgGS1gSh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK3gWCcVbm6LRvU3N0d4VOT7P4PfpzkvlzWo_R8Kgojg&oe=667E998E | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447306763_437503968996030_3535214343164963730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bBMEvrHnkDAQ7kNvgEKl6bm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAK9ptCEakPZY0zeHZvxrCwY3IVOV9_MF-V0G2T77UV1w&oe=667EA088 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888925 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678827 | 1026 | 2159638524434546 | 1 | 9.6143829566379E+14 | 1717484400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210212795140233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1717170198 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235329_669837955327704_2089153290860508039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e9_UME62_t0Q7kNvgGWrZVh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAHFH2w8oNP3FTzyCtNv2TUsG1GOEdM1eCPa5J3LPIX2w&oe=667E7A46 | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445417710_3306161976359767_2112175207822166929_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5g98EoIvL9AQ7kNvgF9fUUR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBltEfYMYRrxL9G7Rg4fjfeyUmy_lWYqnUcj9_ohkvZUQ&oe=667E9561 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888928 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 2159638524434546 | 1 | 9.6143829566379E+14 | 1717484400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210212795140233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1717170198 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235329_669837955327704_2089153290860508039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e9_UME62_t0Q7kNvgGWrZVh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAHFH2w8oNP3FTzyCtNv2TUsG1GOEdM1eCPa5J3LPIX2w&oe=667E7A46 | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445417710_3306161976359767_2112175207822166929_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5g98EoIvL9AQ7kNvgF9fUUR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBltEfYMYRrxL9G7Rg4fjfeyUmy_lWYqnUcj9_ohkvZUQ&oe=667E9561 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888929 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 2159638524434546 | 1 | 9.6143829566379E+14 | 1717484400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210212795140233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1717170198 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235329_669837955327704_2089153290860508039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e9_UME62_t0Q7kNvgGWrZVh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAHFH2w8oNP3FTzyCtNv2TUsG1GOEdM1eCPa5J3LPIX2w&oe=667E7A46 | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445417710_3306161976359767_2112175207822166929_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5g98EoIvL9AQ7kNvgF9fUUR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBltEfYMYRrxL9G7Rg4fjfeyUmy_lWYqnUcj9_ohkvZUQ&oe=667E9561 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888930 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 416526867943445 | 1 | 7.6142898584583E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 337782656077360 | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | 120212457540530592 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/Gm09h7-0524-EN-694790.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1716974468 | 3.3778265607736E+14 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445372749_806966594400367_8328680758778900513_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8D7aXJWO9g0Q7kNvgEUIAk_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA2pIsW6vP5nCj79FiO_wTSgW8XvXFIllXCKIv7m5PUpw&oe=667E7D5A | person_profile | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445517830_981120310045018_357273464333431315_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lWC0DYAmmxoQ7kNvgGOxOF_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDnGwdeIsH7bGBKEm51p3gjcy5-61z1RQWTDXQgkJ4vwA&oe=667E9971 | 0 | 3 | Reborn - I am the Protagonist ONLY on Miiow TV.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Happy Drama Catching Up | 22 | https://facebook.com/61559368364181 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888933 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 416526867943445 | 1 | 7.6142898584583E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 337782656077360 | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | 120212457540530592 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/Gm09h7-0524-EN-694790.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1716974468 | 3.3778265607736E+14 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445372749_806966594400367_8328680758778900513_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8D7aXJWO9g0Q7kNvgEUIAk_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA2pIsW6vP5nCj79FiO_wTSgW8XvXFIllXCKIv7m5PUpw&oe=667E7D5A | person_profile | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445517830_981120310045018_357273464333431315_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lWC0DYAmmxoQ7kNvgGOxOF_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDnGwdeIsH7bGBKEm51p3gjcy5-61z1RQWTDXQgkJ4vwA&oe=667E9971 | 0 | 3 | Reborn - I am the Protagonist ONLY on Miiow TV.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Happy Drama Catching Up | 22 | https://facebook.com/61559368364181 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888934 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 416526867943445 | 1 | 7.6142898584583E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 337782656077360 | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | 120212457540530592 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/Gm09h7-0524-EN-694790.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1716974468 | 3.3778265607736E+14 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445372749_806966594400367_8328680758778900513_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8D7aXJWO9g0Q7kNvgEUIAk_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA2pIsW6vP5nCj79FiO_wTSgW8XvXFIllXCKIv7m5PUpw&oe=667E7D5A | person_profile | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445517830_981120310045018_357273464333431315_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lWC0DYAmmxoQ7kNvgGOxOF_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDnGwdeIsH7bGBKEm51p3gjcy5-61z1RQWTDXQgkJ4vwA&oe=667E9971 | 0 | 3 | Reborn - I am the Protagonist ONLY on Miiow TV.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Happy Drama Catching Up | 22 | https://facebook.com/61559368364181 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888939 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1028825131907048 | 1 | 8.3710794829618E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 114970411603490 | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 120212262716050247 | l.adbuilder.pro | Learn more | NONE | video | By Michael B. Carmolingo | Details and contact info >>> | https://l.adbuilder.pro/iGONRb/27388 | 1718905484 | 1.1497041160349E+14 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448691353_1047083203811990_2974253001108126541_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_jxIQcdyYiMQ7kNvgF-t_qF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB20rFRboyhuadbfBQwp8wdyGl6_7xCqmge1w9tC6vbAg&oe=667E9764 | person_profile | 0 | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448866639_788429670152943_2600394584922724723_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IFuqg_B6SwEQ7kNvgEKUojz&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4mLmeLuFnpkc0WdzfuLHPj33KfI1qP1SHJL7LHs7pJw&oe=667E8426 | 0 | 3 | Recently sold in 20169! Markets change quickly. Curious what your home's worth? Reach out for a free analysis. | SphereBuilder Community - GWA | 31 | https://facebook.com/spherebuildergwa | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888960 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 464860922861805 | 1 | 9.9282116889382E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 112529452120441 | 0 | Valhalla Tahoe | 120208804444970262 | valhallatahoe.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Endless Fun | Embrace Summer at Valhalla Tahoe! | https://www.valhallatahoe.com/events?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_Arts_and_Entertainment&utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4776544-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod | 1717537001 | 1.1252945212044E+14 | Valhalla Tahoe | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447788387_973058027552655_9209561098459223618_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uo0LmPYUsIAQ7kNvgEqgpe8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDRe01WAhYgFlOgTiLUj3S5LxMC2O8QpDKDHWNmR0qpvQ&oe=667E7B95 | person_profile | 0 | Valhalla Tahoe | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/446898337_492000286584096_6117367585715937578_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KeH4pDLEi_4Q7kNvgGPg1nf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCEYgzDHAIBa_lAezQkTfyJvJkr4XhtDT_lqShZjfJkGQ&oe=667E8434 | 0 | 3 | Embrace Summer at Valhalla Tahoe! | Valhalla Tahoe | 6937 | https://facebook.com/ValhallaTahoe | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718002800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888962 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 813917570331061 | 1 | 7.9554510244167E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 456396411095326 | 0 | Michaelis Mattress | 120208663124750192 | www.michaelismattress.com | Learn more | NONE | video | Unbeatable Deals | Michaelis Mattress offers unbeatable deals with fast, easy delivery. Visit any of our 4 convenient locations in the Midlands. | https://www.michaelismattress.com/ | 1717178191 | 4.5639641109533E+14 | Michaelis Mattress | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185212_829265702385938_3114008864186917216_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GiJEdDbOCCMQ7kNvgHa1KeO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCOqZRtstJ3-hKgwSKwxn3ZdmTGAX1JB3I_qN9GrJnDEg&oe=667EA35F | person_profile | 0 | Michaelis Mattress | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447302283_1650268755796816_285649779940373909_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=paGnzKWUoDMQ7kNvgFRJelL&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC4KnXzoJ-N-6rQMBdPSxMDS5d4FbDlUA0zDZwZ52pD7A&oe=667E98C2 | 0 | 3 | Get $300 in FREE accessories with the purchase of any Tempur-Pedic mattress! | Michaelis Mattress | 468 | https://facebook.com/MichaelisMattressCompany | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888963 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188466 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 325885170571219 | 3 | 4.7597845828983E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888985 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888987 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888989 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888991 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 474051348415323 | 1 | 8.0704259806478E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888993 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888995 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888997 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888999 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188468 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889001 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 494790422890226 | 1 | 1.5397461002899E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209987546060281 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12088&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718869075 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734622_433474479610502_7081717358378595892_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=R8jOlcMeekgQ7kNvgEjlz1D&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJlfcUDANZbltAu00SPA3bjHw4cBtHe9vFaFr78doa2Q&oe=667E80D1 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448836659_995411545298781_9205602838875192217_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ak0wH2wmh90Q7kNvgH2R-9J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA3u4Mm6lPcUL6JAdGe0ANDr0e55nuwxjmP_7b7Qw8oGw&oe=667E8F25 | 0 | 3 | This wasnโt the first time I received photos of Owen cheating on me. The blonde hair and slender build of the woman kissing him reminded me of my best friend Josie. But it couldn't be herโฆ Right? With trembling fingers, I dropped my phone. How could he do this to me? I thought he cared. I thought I was the most important person in his life. I was like a sister to him, and now I am his wife! After losing my parents, I was adopted by Owenโs family. I saved Owen's life when we were young. His family was so grateful that they decided to take me in. I grew up with Owen. We used to be inseparable. At first, he was like a brother to me. But as we grew older, things changedโฆ He went from an awkward, geeky boy to a tall, handsome young man. I changed with the years, too. Puberty transformed me from a skinny little girl into a fit, voluptuous young woman. My dark brown hair grew long and wavy, spreading on my shoulders like seaweed. My bright green eyes with soft sight were framed by long black lashes. My fair skin and slim figure let me win the admiration of many Suitors. Owen always said he loved my eyes. He said my eyes were as charming as a clear lake. Since we were teens, we felt a strange, forbidden attraction to one another. But neither of us ever dared to admit it. Until that one fateful night, when we shared our first kiss. We got married when we were 22 years old. I couldnโt believe that was almost 3 years ago now. I always thought we knew each other best. I thought nothing could ever come between us. But Owen had been acting very strange recently. These photos seemed to explain whyโฆ I had to confront him. โOwen?โ I called out. โOwen, where are you?โ He didnโt answer. He must be upstairs. I walked up the stairs and heard him talking to his friend Simon on the phone. As I was about to knock on the door, I overheard: โNo, I donโt think I love her anymore.โ His words gave me icy chills. โYou should be happy, Simon. I know you like Noah. If we get a divorce, you can have her.โ Owen continued. โHe said...what?โ I couldnโt believe my ears and cried in my heart, โHow dare he talk about me like that? I wasn't just some object he could give away! โ Hearing Owenโs frivolous talk with his friend, I felt sick. I grew up with him and got married for so many years. But he recently acted like a stranger. Did he have a new love? Why he treated me in such a cruel way?! I was almost to open the door to question him, but suddenly I hesitated, โQuestion him and then what? Owen may not love me love before. Do I want divorce? No, I donโt think so. Anyway, I have to calm down. At least I need to have a talk with him first. I need to know what happened to our marriage.โ So, I quietly made my way back downstairs. I tried to forget about what I heard by preparing dinner. As I was dishing up our pasta, the delightful scent of italian herbs drifted through the house. I heard Owen come downstairs. โJust in time for your dinner, hun!โ I said, trying to sound normal. But he was wearing his coat and gelled hair. He looked handsome as ever and ready to leave. I could smell his aftershave - my favorite smell in the world. โWhere are you going? Itโs getting late and dinner is ready.โ I said. โDinner with a client. Donโt wait for me.โ Owen replied and left without hesitation. I sat alone at the table, looking at the food Iโd carefully prepared for him. Tears were streaming down my cheeks. I listlessly turned the spaghetti round and round with my fork. I wasnโt hungry. After storing away the leftovers, I stared at the TV for a while. Nothing could get my mind off of Owen and whoever that blonde tramp was. I made my way to the bathroom. I washed my mascara stained face and looked at myself in the mirror. Why did he stop loving me? Am I not beautiful enough? Did I not do enough to make him happy? I gave my body a scrutinizing glance, suddenly seeing all the parts of me that werenโt perfect. My belly wasnโt as flat as it used to be. Maybe I shouldโve had my lips done, like my friend Josie. Mine always used to be fuller than hers. But now she had the plump, luscious lips of a model. After washing up, I went to bed. Dropping my face into my pillow, I felt miserable. I tried to fall asleep, but my mind kept wandering. Where was Owen? And with who? Will he even come home tonight? At 1 am, I finally heard the key turn in the front door. From all the stumbling I could hear Owen was very drunk. I swiftly made my way downstairs to help him to the bedroom. He started kissing me and said a blurry name. I tried to identify what it was. After he repeated it for many times, I was shocked. It sounded like... โJoiseโ! โJosieโฆ? Were you with Josie?โ I asked with panic in my voice. I helped his heavy body into bed. He grunted some words I couldnโt understand. I couldnโt believe my husband cheated on me with my best friend. I cried and pleaded with him to see that it was me, not Josie. He pushed me away. As his head hit the pillow, he started snoring right away. Looking at my husband - completely drunk - I didnโt recognize the man I knew and loved. I tried to sleep next to him. But it felt like I was lying next to a stranger. I went downstairs and sat on the sofa all night, wide eyed, thinking about what happened between us. The next morning, Owen came downstairs after a shower. I wanted to ask him how he was feeling. He must be hungover. When I got up from the couch, I felt very weak and feverish. The sleepless night must've made me sick. โOwen, are you OK?โ I asked as I struggled to walk over to him. I really wanted to hug him. If only for a sense of comfort. He swept my arms away and told me to leave him alone. I was so weak and dizzy, his push made me fall. Owen was stunned for a moment. Then he said coldly, โIf youโre sick, go see a doctor.โ I scrambled up to my feet, and looked at him with a shocked expression. Suddenly, his phone rang. As he lifted it to his ear, the screen lit up. I could clearly see who was calling: โJosieโ. Chapter 2 - Hope Noah My heart sank when Owen picked up the phone. The screen clearly said โJosieโ. He answered: โHello? Yes, of course, sir. I can take a look at those documents for you.โ I couldn't believe Owen was lying to my face. He glanced at me, then quickly walked over to the kitchen. When he thought I couldn't hear him, his voice softened. He sounded so sweet. Although I couldnโt hear his words, the way he spoke to Josie reminded me of the beginning of our romance. Owen was still trying to hide his betrayal from me. He must have forgotten that he gave away his secret last night, when he called me Josie. Those pictures on my phone left no doubt. He was cheating on me, with my best friend. I leaned up against the wall. I felt weakened by my fever and this emotional rollercoaster. I stared at my husband as he came back inside the living room. He avoided my eyes. It felt as if he had become a stranger. In the past, he wouldโve never let me suffer like this. โIโll pick you up later.โ Owen said, ready to go. I grabbed his hand and begged him to stay with me. โPlease, donโt leave. I'm sick, Owen. I need to see a doctor. Iโm too weak to be all by myself.โ He was very impatient. He said he had some important business to deal with. I couldnโt help crying as I watched him leave. My husband and my best friend were betraying me, behind my back. I walked up the stairs slowly, carefully holding on to the railing. I was so weak and fragile. Bed rest was my best option right now. I really needed my husband to take care of me. When we got married, he vowed to me: โIn sickness and in health, in good times and badโ. This was definitely a bad time, and he was nowhere to be seen. When I woke up from my nap, I felt even worse. In my feverish haze, I reached for my phone and tried to call Owen. I opened my recent contacts and found that Owen had not had any calls with me these days at all. I had to open the contact list to look for him, few minutes later I dialed out with a headache and dizziness. Almost immediately I heard: โHello, Noah?โ The voice on the phone sounded very deep. I figured Owen got a cold after his late night out. โIโm so sick, Iโm so weak. I need to get to the hospital. Please, come back, pleaseโฆโ I pleaded, my voice weak and trembling. โIโll be right there.โ Said the voice on the phone and hung up right away. His voice sounded different from before. And his tone was a little urgent. Whatโs wrong? I didnโt have enough energy to think about it. At least he might still care about me. That comforted me a lot. Before long, there was a heavy knock on the door. Did Owen leave his key? I opened the door, expecting to look into Owen's gray eyes, but found Raymond's kind, hazel brown eyes instead. What was he doing here? Raymond was Owenโs uncle. He was only several years older, but very mature. He was tall, tanned and handsome. His chocolate brown hair matched his eyes. With his strong, square jaw and muscular body. I always thought Owen was one of the most attractive men I knew. It wasn't until Raymondโs appearance that I realized how dominant the handsome genes in this family in terms of good looking. After living in Australia for most of his life, he had come back 10 years ago to take over his familyโs business. By now, he was the most successful CEO in the city. Although all women admired him, he remained single. โDoes Owen know youโre sick?โ Raymond said, looking concerned. โHow did you know I'm sick? Do I look that terrible?โ I asked, suddenly aware that I was only wearing my little nightgown, had no make-up on and had my hair up in a messy bun. Raymond smiled. โDon't worry, Noah. I got your call earlier.โ Oops, I must have pressed the number of โOwenโs Bossโ instead of โOwenโ. I apologized for the inconvenience. โYou are a member of our family, Noah. Itโs my duty to take care of you. And you are never an inconvenience to me.โ Raymond said as he took me by the arm to support me. He led me to his streamlined, dark gray Mercedes to drive me to the hospital. I sat down on the cream colored leather seat. His car smelled brand new. The seat was heated, which helped warm me up, but I was still shivering. Raymond took off his suede blazer and handed it to me. His simple act of kindness made me feel warm, inside and out. โThank you, Raymond. This means a lot to me.โ I said with a relieved sigh. โOf course, Noah. Whenever you need me, Iโll be there.โ He responded. He still had a slight Australian accent. He asked me what happened. I wouldnโt have shared my familyโs private problems with another man who I didnโt even know him very well. But at that time, I was on the very edge of a breakdown. I really needed someone to talk to. Yet when I lost two of my closest persons on the same day, my husband and my best friend, who else could I talk to? โI donโt think Owen loves me as much as before. It seems that he has some secrets with another woman, who used to my best girlfriend. I couldn't sleep all night. I think that's what caused my fever.โ I concluded. I was in tears again by the time I finished the story. โHow could they do this to you? You are the best thing that's ever happened to Owen. If he can't see that, he is an even bigger idiot than I thought!โ Raymond shouted out. His shocked, angry expression showed me how much he cared. โPlease, don't say a word about this to Owen. I haven't confronted him yet. I need to do this myself.โ I responded. We sat quietly for a while, his hand resting very close to my thigh. I felt so weak and miserable. But his presence helped. When we seeing the private doctor. I tried to get out of the car but almost fell. Raymond flung an arm around me, just in time to catch me. I blushed as I looked up to him. My face was very close to his. His piercing eyes looked at me with an intensity I hadnโt seen before. I smelled something fresh. It might be his aftershave. I remembered Owen also used it, and I always told he that I love what he smelled. But I found Raymondโs aftershave smelled a little special. โRaymond? Noah? What are you doing?!โ I suddenly heard Owenโs angry voice. Chapter 3 - Truth Noah Raymond quickly let go of me as Owen approached us. Just before taking a step back. I stumbled over to my husband. I wanted to lean on him for support, but he didnโt seem to care about me at all. All I could read on his face was anger. I tried to be strong and stand by myself, shivering with fever. โSo, youโve got a new love, huh? I saw you flirting with my uncle!โ Owen spat his angry words at me. I turned pale. How could he say this to me? Especially after what he had done? I wasnโt the one who couldnโt be trusted! โOwen! How dare you talk to her like that! Itโs not our familyโs manner!โ Raymond berated him. He was fuming with rage at the injustice. He also knew about Owen's betrayal. Owen was a little timid when Raymond got angry. Although Raymond was only 31 years old, he had become a successful CEO. He had idolized Raymond when he was a child. And now, Raymond was also his boss. Owen had recently started working at his company. Raymondโs fists were clenched and his tense muscles were visible through his buttoned up shirt. He looked like he was about to hit Owen. I didnโt want them to fight over me, so I tried to calm them both down. โRaymond, itโs okay. Owen will take me in to see a doctor. Thank you for driving me here.โ I said gratefully. โPlease, donโt say anything about Josieโ, I tried to tell him mentally through the look in my eyes. He nodded slightly, as if he understood. He relaxed and his eyes softened when he looked at me. I turned back to my angry husband. I couldnโt detect any sign of trust in his eyes. I supposed he should he should be concerned about my health rather than the relationship between me and Raymond. โOwen, I can explain. I tried to call you, but I was so sick I accidentally dialed Raymondโs number. He brought me to see the doctor. You should be grateful to him. Without him I would still be miserable in bed, all alone.โ Owen grabbed me and said, โWell, I was just on my way to come and get you. Then I saw you get out of uncle Raymond's car and โfallโ right into his arms.โ He looked at Raymond with an arrogant smirk. โYou can go back to your important job now, uncle. Iโll look after my wife.โ Raymondโs eyes were cold, but he respected my wishes. He didn't object. After warning Owen that heโd better take good care of me, he got back in his car and drove off. Although I was glad I could lean on Owen, something didn't feel right. I realized I was still wearing his suede jacket. It was so soft and warm, protecting me from the cold autumn wind. When the doctor dealt with my fever, Owen didnโt want to speak to me, let alone look at me. He was engaging himself in typing on his phone. The doctor told me I shouldn't have waited much longer. My fever was so high I could have fainted. After getting examined and taking medicine for my fever, Owen drove me home. We sat next to each other in our car that held many memories. All our road trips and getaways together. Those times were over now. After an uncomfortable silence, I decided to address the elephant in the room. โOwenโฆ What is going on? Do you still love me? Do you still regard me as your wife?โ I asked. โSo what? Whose wife do you want to be?โ Owen hissed. I couldn't believe how horrible he was to me after what he had done. โI know you cheated on me, Owen.โ I uttered with pain in my voice. โYouโve been seeing Josie, right?โ Owen stopped the car with a jerk and pulled over. We sat in silence for a while as he processed my words. โWhat do you know, Noah?โ he pressed, looking me in the eyes at last. I finally confronted him about all the things that had been weighing heavily on my heart. I explained: โSomeone sent me photos of the two of you together. The first time, they didn't show your face. So I didnโt want to believe it. But in the ones I received yesterday, it was clearly you. All those nights, when you told me you had to leave town for business... You lied to me. You spent them at a hotel with another woman! Then, last night, you kissed me and called me Josie. And this morning, I saw it was her calling you. You pretended it was a client. โOwen, we have grown up together since we were kids. I always thought we know each other the most and could trust each other. I canโt believe you would cheat me like that!โ I cried, โOwen, did you fall in love with another woman... Is she my best friend Josie?!โ His eyes showed a moment of doubt. Then, resolution. His mouth tightened as he clenched his jaw. Just when I thought he wouldnโt answer, Owen said: โItโs true. I love her. I love Josie.โ Chapter 4 - Hurt Noah I just couldn't accept it. I loved him so much. How could he cheat on me? โWhy, Owen? I thought we loved each other. I thought we would be together forever. Did I do something wrong?โ I cried. Owen didn't respond. He drove us home in silence. His cruelty was too much for me to bear. I stared at the raindrops on the window. I felt more depressed than ever. That afternoon, Owen left again. I tried having some food and a nap, hoping that would help me heal. But I just couldn't fall asleep until Owen came back home in the early evening. I had to talk to him. I got out of bed and met him at the top of the stairs. โOwen, we need to talk about what happened. You can't keep going out and avoiding me.โ He was obviously drunk again. All he said was, โI donโt have anything to say to you. I am moving out, Noah. I supposed our years of marriage is a mistake!โ I took his hands in mine and begged him to stay and try to work it out. But he shook off my hands and pushed me away. I was standing right on the edge of the staircase. His push made me lose balance, and I tumbled down the stairs. I managed to grab onto the railing so I didnโt fall all the way down. But my head hit the wall when I tried to break my fall. I felt my forehead was bleeding. It was so painful that I couldnโt get up. I thought Owen would help me, but only heard: โYou lost your footing. Itโs not my fault.โ There was a sudden knock on the door. Owen stumbled past me down the stairs. โRaymond? What are you doing here? Now is not a good time.โ โI came to ask you what is going on. You need to give me an explanation. You havenโt โฆ Noah?โ Raymond suddenly saw me sitting on the stairs behind Owen. He pushed Owen aside and ran over to me in alarm. Seeing my messy hair and injured forehead, he instantly knew what happened between us. He punched Owen in the face. โThis is how you treat your wife?! I donโt believe you. Donโt you see Noah is bleeding? Did you hurt her? What a disgusting thing you smelled! You drunk idiot!โ Raymond raged at his nephew. I didnโt even have time to explain. Raymond immediately wrapped me up in his suit jacket and took me to see the doctor. โTwice in one day? That must be a record.โ The doctor said wearily. I gave her a wry grin and answered, โNot by choiceโฆโ The doctor took care of my wounds. I needed a couple of stitches and had some pretty bad bruises, but I would be okay. Thankfully, I didn't break any bones. It was getting dark outside. The autumn breeze was busy blowing the leaves off the maple trees surrounding the hospital parking lot. Raymond and I made our way back to the car. Our feet rustled through the thick carpet of yellow, brown and scarlet red leaves. After my second - and hopefully last - doctor's visit of the day, we sat next to each other in silence. We were back in his beautiful Mercedes. I could get used to these comfortable, heated seats. I felt a bit embarrassed. Raymond kept on having to save me. At least this time, I was wearing clothes and make-up, and my brown hair was neatly tied in a long, wavy ponytail. โI donโt normally need so much help, you know.โ I broke the ice. โI happen to be a strong, independent woman most of the time.โ Raymond laughed heartily. โJokes aside, I'm really grateful for everything you've done for me.โ I continued. โWhy did you come over tonight, Raymond?โ โOwen hadnโt come to work at the company for days. And I wanted to speak to him about what happened this morning, with you. I tried to call him, but he never answered. I decided to come over. To see for myself what was wrong with him.โ Raymond explained. โI just canโt believe what he did to you!โ He continued. โIf he ever does anything like that again, please tell me. Iโll teach him a lesson.โ His stern face showed how much he meant it. I took a deep breath. He had a way of making me feel safe and secure. โThank you, Raymond. Iโm okay now. It was an accident. Owen didnโt push me off the stairs on purpose. He didnโt mean to hurt me.โ I explained. Raymond looked a little angry, but he still carefully drove me home. โGoodbye, Raymond. Thank you again, for everything.โ I said with feeling as he hugged me. โBye, Noah. Itโs been my pleasure. Please be safe. Call me if you need anything.โ He said. He gently patted me on my head as comfort as if I was a little girl and got back in his car. His simple actions made me feel warm. I thanked him and walked home. I entered the house. It was quiet and dark downstairs. I walked up to our room. When I opened our bedroom door, all I could see was Owen and Josie kissing on the bed. Chapter 5 - The Necklace Noah I couldnโt believe my eyes! While the hours I was leaving, my husband was screwing with my best friend in my room! Didnโt he remember I got hurt because of him?! How ridiculous! Even though I had seen Owen and Josieโs betrayal before in photos, witnessing it in real life was way worse. It felt like a million knives stabbed me in the chest. My heart shattered. โHow dare you cheat on me in our home! In our own bed, for Godโs sake!โ I cried out. They hadnโt heard me open the bedroom door over the romantic music that was playing. They turned around with shocked looks on their faces. If I wasnโt so devastated, it mightโve been funny. Owen's mouth had lipstick smears all over it, and Josieโs blonde hair was disheveled. They were both in their underwear. Clothes were spread out all over our bedroom floor. I tried to hold back my tears. I didn't want to show them my pain. My crying might come across as weakness. I demanded an explanation. โI donโt believe this. Owen! Did you forget I am your wife?! Josie, why you betray me too?! I treat you as my best friend. How dare you take my husband away from me!โ I insisted. Josie hid away in Owenโs arms. Owen comforted her gently, then snapped at me: โYouโve already seen us together anyway, haven't you, Noah?โ โI am done with you.โ He continued. โOur whole relationship was based on a lie. Josie shouldโve been with me all along!โ I didnโt understand. โWhat are you talking about, Owen?โ He held up a delicate golden necklace with a tear shaped ruby that had been resting on Josieโs collarbone. โRemember this, Noah? The truth has finally come out. It was Josie who saved my life all those years ago, not you. You pretended that it was you in front of my parents. Youโve made her suffer long enough!โ I was shocked. Why did Josie have my necklace? I couldn't believe her betrayal. I tried to explain to Owen that I lost that necklace before I was adopted by his family. I told him I would never lie to him. Especially about something so important. But Owen didnโt believe me. โJosie,โ I cried. โHow could you do this to me? Why would you steal my necklace? You know how much it means to me! Weโve been best friends since the orphanage, havenโt we? Does that mean nothing to you?โ โNoah, you know this necklace has always belonged to me. I was the one who saved Owen. But you stole my life to be adopted,โJosie played innocent with me, โI should have been the one who grew up with Owen! I see you as my sister, so I never attempted to reveal your lie until Owen found this necklace in my old jewelry box several months ago.โ This convinced Owen even more that I had been bullying her. He wrapped his arms around her. Over his shoulder, when he couldnโt see, Josie gave me a quick, mean smirk. I knew Josie had a mean side. She always had, even when we were kids. But so far, she had only taken it out on her boyfriends and whoever got on her bad side, not on me. I never thought she might treated me in such a mean way! I had searched everywhere but couldn't find my that necklace. It turned out that she was the thief who was always around me. How could she tell such outrageous lies as if it were natural๏ผ I left the bedroom, rushed downstairs and broke down on the couch. Oh, what a nightmare! How could I make Owen see the truth? A little later, Owen and Josie came downstairs, all dressed up again. Josie was wearing her Prada pumps and the sleek, mint green dress I gifted her for her birthday. It accentuated her long legs and slender silhouette. I had to admit, she looked beautiful. I used to dress in a simple way such as simple jeans, white blouse and sneakers. Maybe I looked less attractive compared to Josie. Owen had an arm around Josieโs waist and warned me, โYouโd better stay out of our life from now on. Iโll move to another villa with Josie.โ I couldn't believe it. After 3 years of marriage, he trusted her story over mine. And now he wanted nothing to do with me. We used to be happily married. Our whole lives, ever since I saved him, we had been so close. We used to laugh together, cry together, play pranks on each otherโฆ But now, everything changed, simply because of a necklace. In fact, โnecklaceโ is just an excuse for his betrayal. I didnโt believe our years of affection couldnโt prove my heart. โNoah, my life were ruined by you. You owe me that.โ Josie said. โOne day youโll both regret this. I didnโt do anything wrong.โ I sobbed. As they walked out, I faintly heard Owen reply: โItโs my fault. I should have found you earlier, or you wouldnโt have suffered so much.โ I could only guess at his last insult as the door closed behind them. I zoned out in front of the TV and poured myself some of Owenโs whisky. The past couple of days had been the worst of my life ever since I lost my parents. My body and mind had been through so much. I felt numb. I must have fallen asleep on the couch. The sudden loud jingle of my phone ringing woke me up. The bright midmorning sun was shining in through the large windows. Looks like I slept in late. Disoriented, I picked up my phone and saw it was Owen calling. I accepted the call and brought the phone to my ear. Before I could say a word, I heard Owenโs angry shouting: โHow dare you do this to Josie! Those guys you hired? They put her in the hospital! I canโt believe your jealousy would drive you this far!โ Chapter 6 - Choice Noah โWhat?! What guys? I just woke up, Owen. I have no idea what youโre talking about.โ I replied to the angry voice on the phone. โMore lies! I canโt believe you, Noah. You're despicable!โ Owen shouted. He was so loud, I had to move the phone away from my ear. โOwen, please calm down. All I remember is you leaving with Josie last night. I fell asleep on the couch. What happened?โ โJosie is in the hospital because of you. I demand that you come here right now and apologize to her!โ He ended the call before I could reply. What was this about? Would my life ever go back to normal? I decided to find out what was going on. My fever was over. Although my head still hurt, the wound was healing rapidly. I took a refreshing shower and got into a pencil skirt and light blue blouse. I combed my hair and decided to wear it in natural loose waves today. After a quick breakfast, I slipped into my high heels and coat, and made my way to my car. It was a crisp sunny day. I arrived at the hospital. At least it wasn't me who needed to see the doctor this time. โOh, itโs our โold friendโ.โ The nurse said jokingly. I smiled as she directed me to Josieโs room. As soon as I knocked on the door, Owen opened it with an enraged look on his face. โFinally! That took you long enough.โ He whispered angrily. โJosie is sleeping.โ He came out and gently closed the door behind him. We walked towards the chairs in the hallway. โI have no idea what happened, Owen.โ I said honestly. โCan you please tell me what is going on? Some guys attacked her?โ โAre you still pretending you weren't behind this? You are unbelievable.โ He shook his head, then continued. โJosie was attacked by some hooligans this morning, on her way to work. She shouted out and fainted from fear. Thankfully, a police officer was nearby. He heard her scream. She has a heavy concussion from the fall. She'll have to stay here a few days to recover.โ โWhat? That's horrible!โ I replied in shock. Although I was angry with Josie, I wouldn't wish this on anyone. โStop your act now, Noah. Those guys were arrested. They told the police someone paid them to kidnap Josie, because she broke up a marriage.โ No wonder he doubted me. But I couldnโt believe the trust between us was so fragile. โWould you believe me if I swore to you it wasn't me?โ I asked with a last glimmer of hope. His reply made it clear to me that there was no hope left for us: โNever again will I believe a single word you say, Noah.โ I refused to apologize. I didn't have anything to do with this. If there is anyone needed to stand out and make an apology, it was them for what they had done to me๏ผ On my way out, I contacted a friend who had lots of connections all over the city. I asked her to investigate the situation. I also called the office on my way home, to let them know I was still recovering from my fever and head wound. My boss was understanding. She told me to take as long as I needed. In the evening, Owen came home just as I was about to have dinner. โI didnโt prepared your dinner. I guess you would have dinner with Josie?โ I said plainly. I didnโt know why he came back at this time, but I didnโt care about it anymore. He ignored my words and said, โYou still donโt want to apologize, right? You have two choices, Noah. Apologize and make amends with Josie, or divorce me and get out of this house!โ โJosie is the one who betrayed us both. She lied to you, Owen. She stole my necklace. She is the one who should apologize!โ I argued. Owen burst out in rage and slapped me in the face. I stared at him in disbelief. I was totally disappointed. Over the past few days he had hit me, pushed me, cheated on me. He had hurt me in every way. I made up my mind. โI choose divorce.โ I said coldly. โOkay, good. My lawyer will contact you in the next morning. Oh, and Iโve prepared another โsurpriseโ for you.โ Owen said ruthlessly with a wicked smile. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889003 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889007 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889009 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889010 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889011 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889014 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889015 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889017 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889019 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889021 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889022 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889025 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889026 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188470 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889027 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889029 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889031 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 837617594931091 | 1 | 9.8653282960732E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889033 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889035 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889037 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889038 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188471 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889041 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1003711691311781 | 1 | 9.6315015862916E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889043 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889045 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889046 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889047 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889049 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188472 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889050 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889051 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1021734143001549 | 1 | 7.8774056315131E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889053 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889055 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889057 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889059 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889062 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889083 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889085 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889087 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188475 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889089 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188475 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889091 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188476 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889093 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188476 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889095 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188477 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 660581109579844 | 2 | 9.314627187491E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889098 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889099 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889097 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188477 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889398 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1879390642474185 | 1 | 7.7004547176018E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120208791531700084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Trusted Movers For a Smooth Transition | Stress-free relocation. | http://www.delaneyworldwide.com/ | 1713558864 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436547483_7464615606938391_7957480284726591432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5cOXAvpXHUAQ7kNvgEVqQRs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYApND1pDxrGFjCE8ODvHGoRf1IeH98Wg2HsYhrUeUGZCA&oe=667EA4BB | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439625953_400220496122398_789550840492018026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_XmxT2yLXFYQ7kNvgGCgmlc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOzAFdjjkuN0UPKm7V39_EU5aBSzIUB-Hk6giCHLfGKw&oe=667E92EB | 0 | 3 | Stress-free relocation. | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713855600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889101 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889102 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889103 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889399 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1879390642474185 | 1 | 7.7004547176018E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120208791531700084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Trusted Movers For a Smooth Transition | Stress-free relocation. | http://www.delaneyworldwide.com/ | 1713558864 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436547483_7464615606938391_7957480284726591432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5cOXAvpXHUAQ7kNvgEVqQRs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYApND1pDxrGFjCE8ODvHGoRf1IeH98Wg2HsYhrUeUGZCA&oe=667EA4BB | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439625953_400220496122398_789550840492018026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_XmxT2yLXFYQ7kNvgGCgmlc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOzAFdjjkuN0UPKm7V39_EU5aBSzIUB-Hk6giCHLfGKw&oe=667E92EB | 0 | 3 | Stress-free relocation. | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713855600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889105 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889106 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188478 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 345924945175506 | 17 | 4.0432693580309E+14 | 1716706800 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211511879180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715765000 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435922042_247479561755579_3821431404594820167_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6adiB0hczXcQ7kNvgEIFlln&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCW0wv57MX7YACEDKeIjc9dBj67rDt-vmVZPZUnklY4wg&oe=667EA508 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436197202_765438095699980_1525197823077953944_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FgfXMQ3-cLcQ7kNvgF_Ic6a&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB5cbi36T7C2hdFbptyM6jbWctdsH61JeYxcoBiDPM34Q&oe=667E9F61 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889107 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188479 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889400 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1879390642474185 | 1 | 7.7004547176018E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120208791531700084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Trusted Movers For a Smooth Transition | Stress-free relocation. | http://www.delaneyworldwide.com/ | 1713558864 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436547483_7464615606938391_7957480284726591432_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5cOXAvpXHUAQ7kNvgEVqQRs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYApND1pDxrGFjCE8ODvHGoRf1IeH98Wg2HsYhrUeUGZCA&oe=667EA4BB | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439625953_400220496122398_789550840492018026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_XmxT2yLXFYQ7kNvgGCgmlc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOzAFdjjkuN0UPKm7V39_EU5aBSzIUB-Hk6giCHLfGKw&oe=667E92EB | 0 | 3 | Stress-free relocation. | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713855600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889110 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188479 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889113 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188480 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889116 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188480 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889118 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889120 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889122 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889124 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188481 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889126 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 451176270986680 | 1 | 2.1600445777157E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889128 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889129 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889130 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889132 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188482 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889134 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188483 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889136 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188483 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 468089762273303 | 1 | 1.6919708815392E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889138 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188483 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889140 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188484 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889141 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188484 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889144 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188484 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889145 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188484 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889146 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188484 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 476183364897326 | 4 | 1.0183870862956E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889148 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188485 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889150 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188485 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889152 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188485 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889153 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889159 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889160 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889161 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889165 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889168 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889167 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889171 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889173 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889175 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 785695356970863 | 1 | 1.8811915023045E+15 | 1718002800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214343181970348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11844&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717762144 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447256994_962585992003167_5083994497026705008_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YCVCI9YBy84Q7kNvgHh3tgw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBg0r8JoujAM-tyIc8gNU9UBEoPy5-4-FylboVFqFz7RA&oe=667E90B1 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447590700_1016773316708518_420838429285916977_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C-bMMKSNEr4Q7kNvgHGIH1f&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPqaa6hxWyIvQaypH5D8BLWa3TXQoh4OvlSvOpVHpq9A&oe=667E942D | 0 | 3 | The roads were soaked. It had been raining for a whole day in Southbury. Aria Carver's backpack was thrown out of the door by the butler in disdain. "Mr. Kent doesn't want to see you, Ms. Carver. So, I have to say some words in his stead. Your birth parents are in the countryside. Your father's last name is Carver. "The Kent family mistook you for their daughter in the past. But now that Ms. Lily has been found, I hope that you can do what's best for everyone and stop contacting the Kent family." The butler, Alfred Dun, took out a card. "Here's 10,000. Mr. Kent instructed me to give it to you as compensation." "No need." Aria didn't even look at the card as she picked up her backpack. Alfred looked at her in disdain. She didn't want the money? Was she acting tough? She should really think about her circumstances. The Kents had found their real daughter. They wouldn't want a country bumpkin like her anymore. She was an embarrassment. "As you wish, Ms. Carver." Alfred closed the door with a loud bang. Aria paid him no mind. She only took a black backpack when she left the Kent Residence. She stood proud and tall. She left the Kent Residence without taking anything that didn't belong to her. The rain falling on her made her look a little defeated. The people on the second floor saw her and started snickering. They didn't care if she could hear them. "She's finally gone." "I know right? I was so afraid that she might not want to go back to the countryside, and would try to stay with us." Aria didn't respond, but a sneer appeared on her face. Were the Kents ignorant? Yes, they were. Aria chewed on a gummy absentmindedly. She had a head of long and glossy black hair. Her face was a little pale, but it didn't make her look weak. Instead, she looked quite mysterious. โฆ At the same time, the Carver family was having an international meeting at their home in Janovin. Warren Carver sat at the head of the table. He held a cane in his hands and looked really intimidating. "It's been so many years. Is there still no leads on your sister?" He was talking to his six grandsons. The Carver family was the wealthiest in Janovin. The six scions of the family were all very remarkable people. Any single one of them would cause a stir if they went out in the open. At that moment, they all looked saddened. Longing and sorrow filled their eyes. They were the ones that lost their youngest sister back then. She was only a baby when she went missing. She never caused a fuss and was always very adorable. It had been 18 years. They had never stopped looking since. All the leads went cold at a secluded village in the mountains. They had no idea how many times the human traffickers moved their baby sister around. "Grandpa, let's keep looking. We will definitely find her!" Suddenly, a chubby man, Frank Levin, rushed into the room with some documents in his hand. He panted as he said, "Mr. Chairman! Little Ms. Carver has been found!" Warren, who was usually composed, stood up immediately. He was so excited that his hands were shaking. "Where is she? Send someone to pick her up right now!" Frank handed the documents over. "She's in Southbury. We're still looking into her exact location." "Then let's go to Southbury! Get a car ready!" Warren was very excited. โฆ It was evening in Southbury. Aria, who had been kicked out of the Kent Residence, didn't go to the countryside. She waited for the rain to stop before she headed back to the place she was staying at. It was a very insignificant neighborhood. When she was parking her car, someone called out to her, "You're back, Aria." "Yeah. I'm back." Aria smiled. Maria Goode, a fruit vendor, handed her an apple. "I haven't seen you in two weeks. No one else could help me with my arthritis." "Don't forget about me, Aria. My hand always trembles when I'm playing chess." Everyone knew that Aria was a very beloved figure in the Elmer district. Some retired government officials loved to chat with her as she treated their conditions. The place might look plain and simple on the surface, but there was more than met the eye. The person who talked about his hand was Jasper Garland, a former national chess champion. Aria didn't delve into the identities of the other residents. She chose to live in this neighborhood because it was a nice place. Chapter 2 More Than Meets the Eye "I'll offer treatment for everyone at the community square tomorrow." Then, Aria reminded them, "Remember to take the medicine. Don't stay up late to watch soap operas. They won't end so soon." "The Tiara" was all the rage in the Elmer district at that time. All the older men and women were hooked on it. A lot of them looked guilty after Aria said that. "WeโฆWe will sleep at 10:00 pm from now on." In the past, no one could have imagined that this group of people would be so obedient to one person. A lot of them had made great contributions to the country. Even their identities were kept a secret. Elmer district's community manager, Joel Hayes, had been hoping that Aria would come back sooner. He could finally breathe a sigh of relief. "Dr. Carver, I have been keeping an eye on your house. I've not allowed anyone to approach your property." "Thanks for the hard work." Aria bowed slightly and handed him an apple. Joel accepted the apple with a smile. "It's no trouble at all. I trust you won't be leaving anytime soon?" A community manager like him could never keep the neighborhood's residents under control. "Yeah. I won't be leaving," Aria said as she took the key. Joel replied joyfully, "That's wonderful! I'll leave you be so you can unpack your stuff. Let me know if you need anything." Aria nodded. She inserted the key and opened the door after Joel left. The lock was very old. It didn't seem like there was anything special about it. But after she undid the first lock, an LCD lock appeared before her. "Confirmation to proceed with iris scan." Aria said casually, "Do it." "Proceeding with iris scan. Please wait." "Iris scan completed. Welcome home, master." It was a very classy computerized voice that hadn't been activated for some time. The metal door opened automatically with a "clack". The house was instantly illuminated. There was a bookshelf that was about six feet tall which was filled with medical books and containers with herbs in them. There was a lot of greenery at the door. Most of them were herbs. All of them were labeled. In the middle of the living room sat a very cool-looking black and red motorcycle. Aria walked over to the kitchen and took a bottle of water from the fridge. She wanted to drink some water and watch some TV. Suddenly, the phone that was charging on her desk rang. It was a custom ringtone. "Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richie Carver, wakey wakey, It's time for work! Richieโ" Aria took the call when it was about to ring for the third time. "Speak." "Boss, there's a huge job in Southbury. Should we take it?" Aria took a sip of the water. "What's it about?" "The richest man in Janovin is looking for his long-lost granddaughter. They say she's in Southbury. It shouldn't be hard to find her. This job pays a lot." Aria yawned. "Not interested." "Hold on! Please wait, boss! There's another one. The type you like! It's also a huge job!" The person on the other end of the call was very servile. Aria placed her chin on the palm lazily. "Tell me about it." "The York family of Janovin is looking for you. They're offering 10 million for you to treat a patient. "They also said that people who can find you or provide information about you will be rewarded as well. They're so stacked!" "Why are they so generous?" Aria went into work mode immediately. She tapped the phone and said, "Send me the details of the job." "Sure thing!" The next moment, the floor-to-ceiling windows became a screen, and the job information was projected on it. The York family had been around for ages. They had protected the country for generations. If Aria's memory served correctly, they even lived in the Guardian Mansion once. The York family had sent out invitations to quite a few renowned doctors. The invitation was in effect for a week. The location for the consultation was set at the Caesar Hotel in Southbury. They wanted to get a doctor who would be able to treat the illness of Landon York, who was in charge of the York family operations. There wasn't much description of Landon's condition. They only mentioned that he had been frail for a long time and that his condition couldn't be revealed to the public. It seemed like there was more than met the eye. Aria stretched her legs. "I'll take this job." Chapter 3 Saving Someone on the Streets "You have a good eye, boss! I'll prepare an account to receive payment from the Yorks!" Aria said calmly, "No need to rush. Let me sleep first. Do it tomorrow." Other than making money, Aria's biggest interest was treating all sorts of rare diseases. This job from the York family was a nice one for her. Honestly, she was probably the only person who wasn't fazed by the York's visit to Southbury. All of the prominent families in the city were scrambling into action. A family like the Kents had to reach out to everyone they knew and utilize all of their connections in an attempt to get an invitation from the Yorks. Even regular people were talking about how the city was especially lively that month. First, the richest man in Janovin came to look for his granddaughter. Then, the York family came to receive treatment. Some said that the Yorks came to Southbury because the legendary Whiz Doctor was in town. There were a lot of rumors about the Whiz Doctor, but some of them were quite outlandish. This time, the Whiz Doctor might actually appear due to the York family's invitation. โฆ The following morning, Aria woke up late. Like any other working adult, she didn't feel like leaving her cool and comfortable room or her cozy bed to get out into the morning sun. But she had to work. So, she got up and washed her face. Without putting any makeup on, she grabbed her bag and left. In order to avoid the morning rush, she scanned a shared bicycle. "Are you heading out to work, Aria?" "Yeah." She was greeting everyone along the way and also had a piece of toast in her mouth given to her by Kenneth Kane. She rode the bicycle steadily without rushing and merged into traffic after a while. โฆ After 30 minutes, Aria arrived at Southbury's renowned Caesar Hotel. Everyone at the entrance and the lobby looked very busy. In the past few days, almost all of the luxury cars in the city gathered at the hotel. In comparison, Aria stood out a lot as the only person who came on a shared bicycle. As soon as she came to a stop, Jose Garcia, a security guard, came over to chase her away. "Get lost, you broke college student. The hotel is not open to the public today." She planted one foot on the ground and met his gaze. Then, she said coolly, "I'm here to save someone's life." "You? Save someone's life?" Jose burst into laughter. "Young lady, you're still so young, but you're quite the braggart." Aria paused for a moment. Then, she showed him proof of her accepting the job on her phone. "Please tell the people inside that Dr. Whiz has arrived." "Dr. Whiz? You can call me Dr. Genius!" Jose gave her an impatient look. "I've seen many invitations. You're the first one to show it on the phoneโฆ" Jose noticed a luxury car rolling up as he spoke. So, he waved at Aria. "Go. Get out of the way." Then, he rushed over to the car and opened the door. "Welcome, Dr. Gunther and Ms. Kent. I'll inform the staff to prepare some tea for you." The people in the car just nodded at him. They didn't even reply. But Jose had a big smile on his face like he had won the lottery. The car drove past Aria. Lily looked out the window and recognized Aria. Her gaze wavered slightly. The old woman next to her, Salome Gunther, asked, "What's wrong, Lily?" She smiled softly. "Nothing." Aria's gaze remained calm. She walked away resolutely. There was even an amused expression on her face. She used to be someone who held people's lives in her hands, yet she had become the target of another person's shunning. Oh, how the mighty had fallen. Aria pursed her lips. She offered treatment to patients based on her mood and would never help those who were greedy or selfish. She had decided to give up on offering treatment to the York family's patient. So, she took out her phone and was about to reject the job. Suddenly, someone on the sidewalk screamed. "Oh, no! Someone has fainted!" People started flocking toward the voice. "Oh, God! It's a child!" "His face is so paleโฆ" Hearing the commotion, Aria didn't hesitate at all. She parked her bicycle and rushed toward the crowd. The little boy on the ground was only three or four years old. His forehead was drenched. It seemed like he had been sweating profusely. A woman named Francine Gibson grabbed a man in a white lab coat. "Young man, you're a doctor, right? Please save the boy." "No can do, lady. The kid's family isn't here. I can't make any decisions without consulting them." The man in the lab coat, Jimmy Cornell, added with disdain, "Besides, I don't provide treatment to just anyone." Aria heard the exchange between the two of them. She pushed through the crowd and said in a professional manner, "Please give the boy some space. Let the air flow through. The patient needs fresh air." Her tone sounded so authoritative that no one doubted her. Then, she crouched down and placed her fingers on the boy's neck. Francine said anxiously, "Young lady, how old are you? Can you really make him better?" Chapter 4 Doubt "That's right, young lady. We should probably call an ambulance. This boy appears to be lost. I called out for some time just now, but no one came over," an old man said. He was concerned that Aria might be blamed if anything happened to the boy. Aria quickly unbuttoned the boy's coat and brought him to some shade. "Don't worry. I'm a licensed doctor." Then, she opened her bag and took out a medical kit. It was equipped with needles and scalpels of all sizes, all arranged neatly in rows. Aria felt the boy's pulse again. "Stop it! How can you simply touch the patient?" Jimmy yelled. He couldn't allow Aria to do as she pleased. She ignored him and continued to monitor the boy's pulse and heart rate. Jimmy sneered. "I'm Jimmy Cornell, currently studying at Janovin Medical University. My mentor is Dr. Salome Gunther. I'm not just a random bystander. You say you're a licensed doctor? How old are you?" Aria continued to ignore him. Her focus was on the boy. She took out a needle and began to sterilize it. "I'm talking to you! Even that old man knows we should wait for an ambulance. Why can't you get it through your head?" This was the first time Jimmy had been completely ignored by someone. Aria had one knee to the ground. Her demeanor was cool and emotionless. "Do nothing and wait for the ambulance? Wait as the optimal treatment period passes by? Is that what your mentor taught you?" "Who said we should do nothing while we wait for the ambulance? You're the one delaying treatment with those needles. Please don't show off your pseudo-science methods, and let me perform CPR on the patient." Aria shot him a cold glare after she heard what he said. Who would've thought that such a pretty young lady could have such a vicious gaze? "He has a heat stroke. Do you think CPR would help? What a worthless doctor," Aria said as she applied pressure to the boy's fingers. Her tone was glacial. Jimmy lost his cool immediately. "Who are you calling worthless? Do you even know who my mentor is?" He had just received an award overseas for his medical skills. He was incredulous at the woman's audacity to doubt his abilities. "I'm not interested in your mentor. Move." Jimmy's eyes turned bloodshot. "I'll let it slide this time since you're just a lowly traditional medicine practitioner. His lips are turning blue. It's a heart issue." "Hypoxia and ischemia might impact the respiratory system and cause the lips to turn blue." Aria looked at Jimmy with a cold stare, then added, "But a heat stroke can cause that symptom, too. The difference is that his pulse is steady. Moreover, his lips are parched. "It's clear that he had been exposed to high temperatures for a prolonged period. You don't even look at these symptoms, yet you claim to be a medical student?" "That's true. You have to look at the symptoms first. I was taught that too," someone in the crowd agreed with Aria. Then, people in the crowd started chattering. "It seems like the Janovin Medical University isn't anything special at all." "That young lady is way more reliable. I noticed she was quite professional when taking the boy's pulse." Jimmy couldn't take the humiliation anymore. "Alright. So, he has a heat stroke. Will your acupuncture cure him of it? If so, why are we even learning modern medicine?" "You can't represent everyone else who practices modern medicine." Aria glared at him icily. "I'll say it one more time. Move." There were two types of people she hated the mostโthose who looked down on traditional medicine and lousy doctors getting in the way of her treatment. "Sure, I'll move. I'd like to see how skilled you are." Jimmy crossed his arms. "If you can heal him with these needles, I'll get on my knees and apologize to you." "I'm looking forward to that." Aria located the acupuncture points and raised her hand. Chapter 5 Acupuncture Works Aria stuck the first needle into the boy without any hesitation. The boy immediately frowned. It was like he was regaining his consciousness. It looked like he was struggling as his brows furrowed even deeper. Someone in the crowd yelled, "He's waking up!" Jimmy was stunned. His face grew pale. "This can't beโฆ" How did she pull that off? Just one needle? Could a person really regain consciousness from that? Aria raised her hand again. Her gaze was focused, and she looked very composed. She stuck the second needle into the boy's fingertips to draw some blood. Right after she did that, the boy opened his eyes. His pupils were dark and round, while his eyelashes were extraordinarily long. He glanced at Aria quietly, but his face was still quite pale. Everyone in the crowd was stunned. Francine spoke up, "Young lady, you healed with a few pokes of the needle?" Aria applied some light pressure on the needle. She saw that the bloodletting was done, so she removed the needle and pressed a cotton ball on the wound to stop the bleeding. "Madam, it's not that simple. Applying acupuncture to the fingertips can help with dissipating the heat. He was inflicted with heat stroke, which was caused by the high temperature. I just helped him cool down with acupuncture." "Spare me the theatrics. That kid hasn't spoken a word since he regained consciousness. You probably left him with some side effects with your treatment!" Jimmy snorted. Francine was a little annoyed. "The boy has already regained consciousness. Why are you talking about side effects? Are you just trying to get out of apologizing to the young lady?" "That's none of your business!" Jimmy looked at Francine and suddenly sneered. "I understand now. You're all in on this. You pulled me here, and she's trying to scam me. "This is an organized scam, isn't it? I knew traditional medicine practitioners were all fake." Aria's expression grew cold when she heard that. She was about to raise her hand. Then, the boy spoke up in a weak but icy tone, "Traditional medicine has always been an essential part of Celestria's culture. You're a lousy doctor, sir. You should put more effort into studying." "Youโฆ" Jimmy was at a loss for words. The boy spoke up right after he said he wasn't healed. The boy even spoke out against him. It was clear that the boy wasn't on his side. Francine burst out into laughter. "Hey, kid. He's talking about you. You should put more effort into studying." "I won't waste my breath with you bottom feeders anymore. You're just a group of peasants," Jimmy said in disdain. Aria flicked a needle in his direction. It brushed past his face and got stuck in a tree nearby. Such a violent display caused Jimmy to freeze up. Even his legs felt like they were about to give out. Aria smiled as she said casually, "Don't you think you've forgotten about something?" She was just a young woman, but she had a very vicious and commanding presence, which caused Jimmy to feel fear. He tried to keep his cool. "What did I forget?" "An apology," Aria said as she tapped on her phone. She looked devilishly charming. Jimmy didn't want to do that. So, he said arrogantly, "Everyone makes mistakes. I don't have any more time to waste with a traditional medicine practitioner like you." Francine couldn't stand his attitude anymore. "Is this how a student of Dr. Salome Gunther would act? You lost a bet to that young woman, and yet you refuse to apologize? Such ethicsโฆ" "What's wrong with my ethics? Who here can prove I lost a bet to her? None of you will ever have enough money to pay for Dr. Gunther's treatment. "Me being here and providing free medical services is an honor for all of you. How dare you peasants keep babbling about such nonsense? Don't you dare cause trouble here! Do you even know where you are right now?" Francine's hands trembled in anger. "Youโฆ You!" Jimmy snorted. He looked at all of them with utter disdain. They were in a modern society. He didn't believe that Aria would dare to do anything to him. Chapter 6 Teaching Him a Lesson Jimmy had always thought that the common folk were beneath him. He didn't notice that Aria's gaze changed as she looked up. Viciousness and contempt filled her eyes. She casually toyed with a piece of candy in her palm. Then, she flicked toward Jimmy. He felt his knee give out as he fell to the ground. "Ah!" The pain caused him to frown. He tried to get up but realized that he couldn't move his body at all. He couldn't talk, and his hands wouldn't budge. It felt like his movements had been sealed with the attack. Aria walked up to him and said calmly, "As a medical student, you failed miserably at determining the patient's symptoms, and you even declared a verdict without a second thought. "Being a doctor doesn't mean you're better than anyone else. It's a job for you to help people in need. You're unskilled and unethical. Now that you're on your knees, I'll accept your apology. Consider this a lesson I'm teaching you in your mentor's stead." "You!" Jimmy's eyes were filled with hatred. Aria leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Since you're such a shameless person, it'll probably be okay if you remain on your knees here for a couple of hours." "What did you do to me? I want to call the cops! I have been assaulted!" Jimmy yelled. Aria smiled. "And who can prove anything? Mr. Cornell, you got on your knees yourself. I didn't even touch you." "I know right? He deserves that!" The people in the crowd felt great satisfaction seeing Jimmy in that state. "The young lady didn't do anything. Stop lying!" That was the truth. He was the one who refused to help the boy. He was also the one who was running his mouth after Aria provided treatment for the boy. He was also the one who had been cursing at everyone in the crowd and was shameless enough to refuse to apologize. He was a true disgrace to the medical profession. Did he really think he could just say all those things without repercussions? He even tried to blame Aria for his condition. The women in the crowd started to yell, "Everyone, come and take a look! There's an unskilled medical student here. He's on his knees to apologize right now!" "You! All of you!" Jimmy's face was flushed, and his breath was labored. That was why people didn't mess with the ordinary citizens who were brave, kind, and despised delinquency. Jimmy was a fool for being so domineering in front of them. The more people looked at him, the lower Jimmy's head hung. He wished the ground would open up and swallow him up. He was afraid that someone would recognize him. The malice in his eyes grew as he looked at Aria. They were both in the medical industry. So, they were bound to meet again someday. He swore he would get back at her the next time they met. Aria didn't spare him another glance. Besides, if they crossed paths again, she didn't mind breaking his legs. Quite a lot of the older people in the crowd asked for Aria's contact information. They had seen how she performed acupuncture on the boy. It was clear that she was an extremely skilled doctor. They were determined to secure her contact information. Aria didn't turn any of them down, so she added them to her contacts. Francine asked enthusiastically, "Young lady, you were so skilled with the needles. Is there a traditional medicine practitioner in your family?" Aria thought about Georgina Harris, the woman who used to be her grandmother while she was living with the Kents. Georgina was the only one who showed her any kindness. She came up with a solid reason. "Yes. My grandmother practices traditional medicine. She runs a care center." "No wonder. I'll introduce some clients to her soon!" "Sure." Aria thanked Francine politely. Aria didn't have the airs of a renowned doctor at all. She was a legend hiding in plain sight. The boy hadn't spoken at all since he talked to Jimmy. He just sat there quietly as he observed everything. His eyes were very bright, and he looked really adorable. After she finished talking to everyone else, Aria looked at him. "Are you still lightheaded?" He shook his head. Then, he looked up at Aria. "Miss, I'm Miles. Thanks for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would've been dead." Miles York's voice was very sweet. His eyes were round, and his face was very smooth and cute. He did a cute little bow when he thanked Aria. "Your name is Miles? Where is your family?" Aria asked with a raised eyebrow. "They're all inside!" Miles said as he pointed behind him at the Caesar Hotel. Not just anyone could get in there at the moment. Chapter 7 Saved Someone Important People in the crowd exclaimed in surprise and started talking. "Everyone in Caesar Hotel today is quite important. I heard that there are a lot of prominent medical families in there." "Then this boyโฆ" Aria wasn't surprised at all. After all, Miles was very well-dressed. The watch he was wearing on his wrist was quite expensive as well. "Remember to bring bodyguards when you come out next time," Aria said as she packed her medical kit up. When Miles realized that she was leaving, he clung to her leg. Aria couldn't get on the bicycle, so she looked down at him. Miles didn't speak. He just held on to her sleeve. He took a step whenever she did. They were going nowhere like that. She stopped in her tracks. "I'll take you back to your parents." "Okay!" Miles got what he wanted. He nodded and said, "I'll have my parents thank you properly, miss." Aria adjusted his collar for him. "No need for that. I don't take payment for helping kids." "Andโฆ" Miles shifted his gaze. "Do you have a boyfriend, miss?" Aria stood up straight. "No." "Then, I'll ask my brother, Landon, to be your boyfriend as thanks." Miles smiled as he started describing Landon. "Landon doesn't like to talk, but he's very handsome. He makes a lot of money, too. It'll be good for your ego if you go out with him. A lot of pretty ladies want to marry him, you know." Aria smiled when she heard that. "I have no plans of getting married right now." "Okay," Miles replied with disappointment as he drooped his head. He continued walking with Aria dejectedly. When they arrived at the hotel entrance, he looked at Aria enthusiastically and said, "Miss, why don't you meet with Landon first? You should make your decision after you see him." He was sure that Aria would fall for Landon when she saw him. He was a very handsome man, after all. Aria smiled. "You're trying so hard to promote your brother to me. Does he know about this?" "He's always sick. Everyone in the family has been telling him to get married. You're such a skilled doctor, and you're pretty, too. I'm sure a lot of people want to be your boyfriend. So, I'm just trying to get you to give Landon a chance." Aria looked at his parched lips. Then, she went to buy him a bottle of water and some crackers. "Stop talking so much. You're still recovering." Miles was very obedient. He ate whatever Aria gave him. He couldn't open the bottle himself, so he raised it up to Aria and said weakly, "Please help me open it." Landon's assistant, Troy Jepson, came to meet Miles and was shocked to see what was happening. He was sure that the woman with Miles was that imposter that the Kents kicked out. Why was Miles with her? He even asked her to help him open his bottle. Did he change his entire personality? Something flashed in Troy's eyes, but he quickly suppressed his emotions. He knew who Aria was, but she didn't know him. Troy took care not to expose his identity as he walked up to them in a hurry. "Mr. Miles! I've finally found you. I'm so glad you're okay." "This pretty lady saved me," Miles said as he held Aria's hand. He had a defiant look on his face. It was like he was finally himself again. Troy politely said, "Thanks, Ms. Carver." Aria looked at him calmly. "He already thanked me." Her attitude made it hard for Troy to grasp the situation. So, he said to Miles, "Mr. Miles, Mr. Landon called in some favors to track you down. He's in the car right now. He didn't even take his afternoon meds yet." Miles looked up in surprise. He didn't expect Landon to come out here personally. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889177 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889179 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889180 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188487 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889181 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889183 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889184 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889185 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 810682011127168 | 3 | 1.5242211651451E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889187 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889188 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889189 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889605 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188543 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 379270718294139 | 1 | 7.4703713420808E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 241155789412943 | 0 | Inland Valley Recovery Services | 120206695304000591 | www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org | Contact us | NONE | video | Your Road To Recovery Starts Here | Break free from addiction. | https://www.inlandvalleyrecovery.org/ | 1710394723 | 2.4115578941294E+14 | Inland Valley Recovery Services | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431869361_348072008207042_2220250795207324178_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=n4DMa76MijAQ7kNvgGjFkcW&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBhSVvuOckboGy6s7yzHwhk9mxoNcqbcWl9r1DBHD8YGQ&oe=667EA77B | person_profile | 0 | Inland Valley Recovery | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/430738651_330975669947882_1433483430364268567_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rdkV_6SZ7PUQ7kNvgFjg_5g&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDf2F9KruaFD-aPWjBuzK_1q-HwCed67GZcjFS4IxoHRw&oe=667E8CF3 | 0 | 3 | Are you or someone you love battling a fentanyl addiction? You're not alone. We are ready to help you. | Inland Valley Recovery Services | 2177 | https://facebook.com/InlandValleyRecoveryServices | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1710486000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889191 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889193 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889238 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188493 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 996794385151373 | 1 | 4.7613411813989E+14 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210157711830342 | play.google.com | Install now | NONE | video | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.read.goodnovel | 1718113310 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448199353_336029016195951_6337823340457774507_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1w-xsfRLf0MQ7kNvgEI8dd5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAarRDGn70kOz4yRYEFKl7EvDlPs6EGkR7JJff3PIMIRA&oe=667E8B0B | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448204243_1500489524185533_9145284433674404544_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=EtLGHi8rwIgQ7kNvgF-6OA5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB8S3Q5wYrXJU5Hfl1Qs10l7DO9IpM_xNeyNW-6uZoQiQ&oe=667E96B8 | 0 | 3 | ๐Everyone in Norvania knew who Nathan Morrison was. But nobody knew I was his wife. More sadly, when I was tortured by criminals, he was sleeping with another woman... | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | INSTALL_MOBILE_APP | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889197 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 837705058258893 | 3 | 9.9417113863679E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210266080870342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn more | NONE | image | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718538477 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448456103_900971211794277_432174748670067106_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Szw_sR15iVwQ7kNvgHhLV_5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA2iNMGia5vglVLy68mbdd4hK8tJOnKYeOnLyC1gQMuOA&oe=667E76A2 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448441682_1483954359214418_3571330624673193919_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UdgijwwO--sQ7kNvgGHP_8q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBW5A87LW7pW0sTlTXoveL8U4RsCIndZ1hojm3lCy10hg&oe=667E93A0 | 0 | 3 | ๐Everyone in Norvania knew who Nathan Morrison was. But nobody knew I was his wife. More sadly, when I was tortured by criminals, he was sleeping with another woman...<br /> <br /> Open the app and continue reading the rest of the story . ๐<br /> (It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app)<br /> <br /> ๐Due to FB has a limit on the amount of text, Pls Download Goodnovel to read Full version ๐ | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889199 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889200 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889201 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889620 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188547 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 3257834227858415 | 1 | 3.7757143170999E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 113222160318026 | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | 120210481180440370 | servallpestcontrol.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage | Expert gutter solutions! | https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/ | 1710166404 | 1.1322216031803E+14 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jBpsh-Jct2kQ7kNvgF34oMG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCkgNL3X97KQAOV0Z33Ur3L_XO6JBJbvliImY7XSFW-kg&oe=667E8748 | person_profile | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T5ZhE-48RVgQ7kNvgGvjaI7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCU3S3Q56ELh9w-7AXW_1LhgwZ72_vQdKZ51OtAutV7xg&oe=667E9548 | 0 | 3 | Expert gutter solutions! | Servall - Paris, TN | 641 | https://facebook.com/ServallParis | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1710572400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889203 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889204 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889205 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188489 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889621 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188547 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 3257834227858415 | 1 | 3.7757143170999E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 113222160318026 | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | 120210481180440370 | servallpestcontrol.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage | Expert gutter solutions! | https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/ | 1710166404 | 1.1322216031803E+14 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jBpsh-Jct2kQ7kNvgF34oMG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCkgNL3X97KQAOV0Z33Ur3L_XO6JBJbvliImY7XSFW-kg&oe=667E8748 | person_profile | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T5ZhE-48RVgQ7kNvgGvjaI7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCU3S3Q56ELh9w-7AXW_1LhgwZ72_vQdKZ51OtAutV7xg&oe=667E9548 | 0 | 3 | Expert gutter solutions! | Servall - Paris, TN | 641 | https://facebook.com/ServallParis | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1710572400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889207 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 906879354785460 | 1 | 1.1195482224378E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889208 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889209 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889211 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889212 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889213 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188490 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889623 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188547 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 3257834227858415 | 1 | 3.7757143170999E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 113222160318026 | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | 120210481180440370 | servallpestcontrol.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage | Expert gutter solutions! | https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/ | 1710166404 | 1.1322216031803E+14 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jBpsh-Jct2kQ7kNvgF34oMG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCkgNL3X97KQAOV0Z33Ur3L_XO6JBJbvliImY7XSFW-kg&oe=667E8748 | person_profile | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T5ZhE-48RVgQ7kNvgGvjaI7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCU3S3Q56ELh9w-7AXW_1LhgwZ72_vQdKZ51OtAutV7xg&oe=667E9548 | 0 | 3 | Expert gutter solutions! | Servall - Paris, TN | 641 | https://facebook.com/ServallParis | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1710572400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889215 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188491 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889216 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188491 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889217 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188491 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 942492530960474 | 1 | 1.5038881635522E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889624 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188547 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 3257834227858415 | 1 | 3.7757143170999E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 113222160318026 | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | 120210481180440370 | servallpestcontrol.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage | Expert gutter solutions! | https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/ | 1710166404 | 1.1322216031803E+14 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jBpsh-Jct2kQ7kNvgF34oMG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCkgNL3X97KQAOV0Z33Ur3L_XO6JBJbvliImY7XSFW-kg&oe=667E8748 | person_profile | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T5ZhE-48RVgQ7kNvgGvjaI7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCU3S3Q56ELh9w-7AXW_1LhgwZ72_vQdKZ51OtAutV7xg&oe=667E9548 | 0 | 3 | Expert gutter solutions! | Servall - Paris, TN | 641 | https://facebook.com/ServallParis | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1710572400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889219 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188491 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889221 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188491 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889223 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188492 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 965390625278646 | 1 | 1.0113671273015E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889288 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1147578309846881 | 1 | 9.3716217476051E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718089200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889290 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188499 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889292 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889294 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889296 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889297 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188500 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1148979893108902 | 1 | 8.5725096310589E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889300 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889302 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889304 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889306 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889308 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188501 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1368807707140052 | 1 | 1.6465890561742E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889310 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188502 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889312 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188502 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889313 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188502 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889314 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188502 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889316 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889317 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889318 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1446131629599107 | 1 | 9.3528040839923E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717830000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889320 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889322 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188503 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889324 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889325 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889326 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889330 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889332 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889333 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188505 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889395 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 423787033626246 | 1 | 9.5404700312256E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 105559638886710 | 0 | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 120210400600470334 | lewyslandscaping.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Efficient Commercial Trucking Solutions | Let's optimize your logistics! | https://www.lewyslandscaping.com/services | 1713888358 | 1.0555963888671E+14 | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439631490_446546801091820_3798544709504058628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NLBri4EOOGAQ7kNvgEsQkZq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA1NruhE3rfZpeXqm04L8JoC7AtFiXK94sa20Fc_05XmQ&oe=667E95FF | person_profile | 0 | Lewy's | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439921882_355177520344511_1972065197139668211_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MaqzXmqjUXsQ7kNvgHnXxV6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCTBaIgvzyrnmu4KB-ijFvMJqaFOYhixJ2KBi39731jrA&oe=667E95F6 | 0 | 3 | Let's optimize your logistics! | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 538 | https://facebook.com/lewysparistn | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1713942000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889335 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188505 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889336 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188505 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889337 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188505 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889339 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1661811901313460 | 1 | 4.7076460199066E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889340 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889341 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889343 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889344 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889347 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889348 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188507 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889349 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188507 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889351 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188507 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889352 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188507 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889353 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188507 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889355 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188508 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889356 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188508 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889357 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188508 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889361 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188509 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889363 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188509 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889364 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188509 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889367 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188510 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889369 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188510 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 2192424827787443 | 1 | 8.1032718449827E+14 | 1718434800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718262000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889371 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188510 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889373 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188511 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889377 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188512 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889379 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188512 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889381 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 7960385803992369 | 5 | 7.8472918706258E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210266081000342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718538490 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448436404_970608714738803_2798207834446105531_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CBneI3LPcEoQ7kNvgHph8us&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCD1vfwFs1Kb9Riyx7Rnln2tTV0xO0-R79Vo_cuWGZt2w&oe=667E927F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448350940_1200709484618839_439796378359534831_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=WNq88_rXjukQ7kNvgHYLeoP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYByV8oX3YMnfLA-tEapGdrj3ExDw5qYGlqnRhmiIepddA&oe=667E9604 | 0 | 3 | ๐Everyone in Norvania knew who Nathan Morrison was. But nobody knew I was his wife. More sadly, when I was tortured by criminals, he was sleeping with another woman...<br /> <br /> Open the app and continue reading the rest of the story . ๐<br /> (It will automatically jump to the book when you open the app)<br /> <br /> ๐Due to FB has a limit on the amount of text, Pls Download Goodnovel to read Full version ๐ | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889383 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889384 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889385 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889388 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889393 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 423787033626246 | 1 | 9.5404700312256E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 105559638886710 | 0 | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 120210400600470334 | lewyslandscaping.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Efficient Commercial Trucking Solutions | Let's optimize your logistics! | https://www.lewyslandscaping.com/services | 1713888358 | 1.0555963888671E+14 | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439631490_446546801091820_3798544709504058628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NLBri4EOOGAQ7kNvgEsQkZq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA1NruhE3rfZpeXqm04L8JoC7AtFiXK94sa20Fc_05XmQ&oe=667E95FF | person_profile | 0 | Lewy's | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439921882_355177520344511_1972065197139668211_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MaqzXmqjUXsQ7kNvgHnXxV6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCTBaIgvzyrnmu4KB-ijFvMJqaFOYhixJ2KBi39731jrA&oe=667E95F6 | 0 | 3 | Let's optimize your logistics! | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 538 | https://facebook.com/lewysparistn | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1713942000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889394 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 423787033626246 | 1 | 9.5404700312256E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 105559638886710 | 0 | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 120210400600470334 | lewyslandscaping.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Efficient Commercial Trucking Solutions | Let's optimize your logistics! | https://www.lewyslandscaping.com/services | 1713888358 | 1.0555963888671E+14 | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439631490_446546801091820_3798544709504058628_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NLBri4EOOGAQ7kNvgEsQkZq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA1NruhE3rfZpeXqm04L8JoC7AtFiXK94sa20Fc_05XmQ&oe=667E95FF | person_profile | 0 | Lewy's | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439921882_355177520344511_1972065197139668211_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MaqzXmqjUXsQ7kNvgHnXxV6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCTBaIgvzyrnmu4KB-ijFvMJqaFOYhixJ2KBi39731jrA&oe=667E95F6 | 0 | 3 | Let's optimize your logistics! | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 538 | https://facebook.com/lewysparistn | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1713942000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889402 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889403 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889404 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889406 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889407 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889408 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889410 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1628410001227426 | 1 | 1.1941498285696E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120210306296820342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718704823 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656695_1645904462849959_3947906774992919917_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=_Gpi9_vcbWsQ7kNvgFP0QaM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3wtpJSu4edBys-PsiLJ0of5n2oPsu17mfrCD6oGDSww&oe=667E776F | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448458450_2721279124686162_5834771701957198017_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6AJOWIcHkSkQ7kNvgFsddB-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjCH2QW44S5-m1esNLq9iyzTz--sfmd1McLSForrhubQ&oe=667E7F72 | 0 | 3 | ๐The day I was kidnapped and suffered torture, my husband was busy cheating with another woman... When I opened my eyes, I knew I was done. My brother had really sold me off to this border town, only to cover his own gambling debts... I freightenedly fought back when a few disgusting man approached me about to tear my dress off, only to receive relentless beating. | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889412 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 496266636079879 | 2 | 9.5916225255792E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120212634476320002 | ocankn.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719058989 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448900886_359578850167898_5638543191696370727_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rM6Jd0cxJ04Q7kNvgFg9Xxg&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAjLAF6OYMN61Rb1P0OQyb3LZV1_-gcvzDQt9mTxO8U9w&oe=667E9D2B | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448737623_409960564837696_2795397962695594519_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qp7eg4jpheYQ7kNvgEoNFgU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAMbHtAIHvE1-uCtz7b7M-3L4OqUykmjzTUsdIbNt8e_w&oe=667E8EE7 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly.<br /> I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now.<br /> I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly.<br /> But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!"<br /> I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded.<br /> Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future.<br /> Felix wasn't done yet.<br /> "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house.<br /> His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment.<br /> The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain.<br /> 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years.<br /> He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation.<br /> He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ <br /> My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched.<br /> Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief.<br /> Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?"<br /> The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall.<br /> Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls.<br /> Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?"<br /> Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat.<br /> I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor.<br /> Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased!<br /> I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity!<br /> If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change!<br /> "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix."<br /> I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue.<br /> I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself -<br /> I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889414 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889415 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889416 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889625 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188547 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 387072690725868 | 3 | 3.871744639565E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1985698018394105 | 0 | Horbaach | 120205822830450525 | horbaach.com | Learn more | NONE | image | Search: 5 results found for "nitric oxide" | Count on us to bring you products that are formulated with care, tested rigorously, and backed by decades of expertise. | https://horbaach.com/search?q=nitric+oxide&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ecommerce&utm_content=nosimage1 | 1708023235 | 1.9856980183941E+15 | Horbaach | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426513719_3590945641147342_7517592862440309833_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ntaZBWWTrCIQ7kNvgGJKHP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCVWn6ptQJSd-G4c45CJJ3jbbJ629zTZk2M5RqaD69UTg&oe=667E8C4B | person_profile | 0 | Horbaach Health | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/426526585_1330967624277560_7147559842765520453_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mHFE8ZmY5c0Q7kNvgHZCHwT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAloajCq99l_OZvDtSsRwzCv44X7c_v81EPK5nZF5LUxg&oe=667E8EB8 | 0 | 3 | Shop Horbรคach Products | Horbaach | 11310 | https://facebook.com/horbaach | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1707984000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889418 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889419 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889420 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889424 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889428 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889430 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889432 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889434 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188515 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889436 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188516 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889438 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188516 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889440 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188517 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889442 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188518 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 302398159575876 | 6 | 7.9376878362617E+15 | 1716274800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715670000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889444 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188518 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889446 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188519 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889448 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188519 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889450 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188520 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889452 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 304024709307949 | 7 | 1.4590207180467E+15 | 1717743600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717484400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889454 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889455 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889456 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889458 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889459 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889460 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 340977338867251 | 1 | 1.1453184900553E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283020281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701044 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448588214_419443067749340_1646345391887323364_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SDh9JS_-qcgQ7kNvgHDgcnp&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCnLQgyJtgFPQ8NKuBHmpWcNP1oDC2B_G8dF0jyMwuNLA&oe=667E755A | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448564551_400768108952414_1425927803047202773_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qgTaABIS0DcQ7kNvgHab6Wr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC-FCBtIWwVwye6JKAWSjWbH4iDmQGlrwxKVvmz6eErg&oe=667E98CD | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889463 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188521 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889468 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188524 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889470 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188525 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889473 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188526 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889475 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188526 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889477 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188527 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889479 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188527 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889481 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188528 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 472704218538310 | 12 | 8.4162250112428E+14 | 1715929200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715583600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889484 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188529 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889486 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188529 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889488 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188529 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889490 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889492 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 478272224667453 | 1 | 9.8867341249763E+14 | 1715497200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120208322655090240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11222&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715247646 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441959051_459948103069197_1403971259308613209_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZTcCqaIgZqUQ7kNvgGzHrCH&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBJsnJsHQgy6tCGDrWatyVvw5e9arQXKFPplU5C10L1Hg&oe=667E931C | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441520392_1857443494727194_4363879934185925189_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SrRtcx-J_xgQ7kNvgFlbrf6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGncrgMoUO3_9PEa65SdCKClzhEdfOHeKvWQznESig5Q&oe=667E81AA | 0 | 3 | Melody Swanson had her cell phone's torch turned on to light the path to a white cottage amidst the lavenders. The night breeze was chilly, but all she had on was a white, sleeveless nightgown and lounge slippers. Her expression lifted when she saw she was getting close to the cottage. But the next second, someone reached out from the bushes beside her and gripped her right shoulder tightly. She yelped in shock, dropping her phone onto the ground. The faint light disappeared. The next thing she knew, she was dragged into a hot embrace. "I'll give you a million for one night!" The man's voice rang out behind her. It was deep and smooth. Melody's heart raced at this plot twist. Before she knew it, she'd been flipped onto her front and pinned to the ground amidst the sea of flowers. She widened her eyes and flailed, trying to escape. "No, wait! You've got the wrong person!" "Stop moving, sweetheart. Or are you that desperate for it?" the man rasped. "Let me go!" Melody struggled harder, but the man's tall and toned figure held her in place as he flipped her onto her back. She started feeling scared. She widened her eyes even more, but all she could see were the stars in the sky behind the man's head. There was barely enough light for her to see the man's chiseled featuresโthe desire burning in his eyes was clear as day, though. It was almost as bright as the stars above. Melody tried her best to escape but to no avail. Pain shot through her; the man leaned down to kiss her and swallow her cries. After a long while, he spoke again. His voice was alluring and hoarse. "You're so sweet, darling. I'll give you a million for another round. How about that?" "You're a monster!" Melody's voice was also hoarse from her crying. How could he do something like this to her in such a saintly place? The wind lifted her dress, stained purple by the lavenders they'd crushed underneath them. The scent was oddly intoxicating. They were in Violetville, which was famous for its sea of lavenders. It was so picturesque that many film companies had been attracted to film there. It gradually turned into a filming base. Recently, John Wales, an internationally renowned director, brought a crew of award-winning actors and actresses to Violetville to film a huge production. He'd happened to catch sight of Melody, who was home from college for the holidays. He'd invited her to play the role of an important side character. Melody hadn't expected her sister, Queenie Swanson, to trick her out of the house in the middle of the night upon hearing the news. Queenie had locked the door and refused to open it no matter how she pleaded. Their parents heard everything but did nothing to stop Queenie. The words Queenie had said not too long ago were still reverberating in Melody's mind. "You were capable of catching that director's eye, weren't you? Is it because you've already slept with him? What are you still doing here, then? Go sleep in his hotel room! I won't open the door for you, so get lost!" With no place to go, Melody had no choice but to take shelter in the white cottage amidst the sea of flowers, which was only meant for sightseeing. She hadn't expected to experience something like this, though. Her family's betrayal and the man's advances made her tears flow. They wet the flowers crushed underneath her body. Melody didn't know how long it would take for the man to be sated; it was as if he would never tire. When the sky started turning bright, he finally stopped. He released her hands, which he'd kept pinned in place. Melody immediately grabbed the nearest object and smashed it over the man's head. He'd been saying, "Tell me your name, sweetโ" Melody smashed a rock on his head before he could finish. He didn't manage to dodge itโperhaps he was too relaxed after having had his fill of her. Chapter 2 The man swayed on the spot from the impact. Melody pushed him away; he lay there, looking up at her blearily. She lifted the rock, intending to strike him again. This was self-defense! But the words echoed hollowly in her mindโshe couldn't do itโshe couldn't take his life. Even of a monster, it would stain her forever. Ultimately, she threw the bloodied rock aside and staggered to her feet. She took a step and happened to kick her phone. Melody picked it up and pulled out the cash tucked underneath her phone case. It was the change she'd gotten after doing some grocery shopping. She threw it at the man and snarled, "Listen upโI bought your services for one night, and that's your fee. Keep the change! And don't think it's too little. That's all you're worth!" With that, she turned and stumbled out of the sea of lavenders. The man's vision was already starting to blur. The blood trickled down his forehead and over his eyes. It dyed his vision red as he watched Melody walk away from him. The color of the flowers' stains on her nightgown seemed to mix with the blood in his eyes, giving him the impression that the flowers were blossoming. He was reminded of the night they'd just had together. "Don't goโฆ" he mumbled, reaching for her. But the darkness overtook him. The luxury watch on his wrist gleamed as his hand fell to the ground limply. โฆ Two months later, there was an uproar at the Swanson residence. "You're expecting a baby before marriage! You're a disgrace to the Swanson family! Get out of here!" Horace Swanson shoved Melody away furiously. "This is a small town, and the people here are all good, honest people. How could you pick up all these bad habits from those celebrities whose private lives are so messed up? Leave now! I'll just act like I never gave birth to you!" Susan Lett waved a hand, looking utterly disappointed. "You should leave, Melody. If the neighbors hear about this, how do you expect Mom and Dad to continue living here? I'm not married yet, you know. I don't want you to affect my reputation." Queenie stabbed an apple slice with a toothpick and ate it. She sat on the couch, looking like she was enjoying the show. Melody pointed at her. "Queenie's the one who locked me out of the house that night because she wanted to get the chance to be in that film! That's why I ended up getting assaulted. Why do you guys refuse to believe me?" Horace stood up and stormed over to her, giving her a hard slap. "Shut up, you imbecile! You're the one who did something so shameless, yet you're still trying to push the blame onto your sister! Don't ever step foot in here again!" "I raised your sister myself, so I know how kind and loving she is. How can you say that about her?" Susan pulled Queenie, who looked aggrieved, into her arms. She gave Melody, who'd fallen to the floor from Horace's slap, a reproachful look. "Is it really like Madam Williams said, Mom? Am I not your daughter? Is that why you won't believe me?" Melody didn't want to cry, but the tears refused to stay in her eyes. They streamed down her face. "Youโฆ Of course you're my daughter! That's why I know what a bad apple you are! How dare you try to blame me when your misbehavior? Leave! Now!" "Fine! I'll go!" Melody staggered to her feet and walked out the door, looking resolute and lonely. โฆ Five years passed in the blink of an eye. Ford Manor was located among a cluster of villas halfway up a mountain in Tottenstone. Ethan Ford was having the same dream again. The woman in his dream wore a white dress, as usual. She had a long, silky smooth hair. He couldn't see her face, though. She didn't seem to enjoy his ministrationsโshe cried and pleaded with him to let her go, but he couldn't stop himself from sinking deeper. He held her close. In the next second, he opened his eyes and woke up from the dream. Chapter 3 It was this dream again. Ethan had experienced it almost every night for the past five years. No other woman had managed to arouse him since that incidentโonly the woman in his dreams could. He'd had the same dream for 1,826 days, including today. Even if he was already used to it, Ethan was still irritated. He wiped the sweat from his face; even his hair was damp. He got out of bed. His perfect figure was like a model's, but his face was more handsome than any model could ever have. His demeanor was cold, regal, and domineering. Ethan took a moment to compose himself. He strode to the bathroom after pushing the steamy images out of his mind. The butler, Bill Jones, heard this and came into the room. He quickly changed the soiled sheets. He'd just finished when Ethan came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel around his waist. As soon as he graced the room with his toned figure, the atmosphere turned somewhat sensual. Bill stood there with his head bowed. When he saw Ethan head to the wardrobe, he said, "Ms. Wendy Nielson called to invite you out for dinner, Mr. Ford. Should I make arrangements? It's high time you let loose and have some fun, sir." Wendy was the daughter of a politician and one of the most well-known socialites in the region. She'd invited Ethan out countless times since running into him at a banquet a year ago. Ethan grabbed a black shirt and put it on, his back muscles rolling as he did so. He didn't even turn back as he said, "You're too noisy." Bill knew this meant Ethan was turning down the invitation. He didn't dare say anything else. 40 minutes later, Ethan strode out of the villa. His assistant, James Sawyer, hurriedly opened the door to a luxury car parked outside. Ethan got into the car elegantly. As the car drove past the main gates, Ethan glanced at the rearview mirror to see two bodyguards stop a woman in a cap and tracksuit. She tried to run after the car; her ponytail swung with her actions. Ethan retracted his gaze and said to James, "Tell the bodyguards they're out of jobs if I see any strangers as soon as I leave the house again." Sweat beaded on James' forehead. "Yes, sir." "Have you found anything on that woman from five years ago?" Ethan tugged on his tie, his eyes cold. He didn't even need to look at anyone to make them shudder. James stuttered, "N-Not yet, sir." "I'll give you another month. If you can't find anything, you can get lost, too!" Unbeknownst to Ethan, the woman he was searching for was behind him. Her figure became smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror. "Mr. Ford, don't go!" Melody finally liberated herself from the bodyguards, but she wasn't in time to catch up with the car. She wanted to run after it, but the bodyguards stopped her again. Amidst the tussle, she fell to the floor and landed on her arm. Pain shot through her. She raised her head to look at the car, but it was long gone. Oh no! It had already been a monthโshe'd staked out every place that Ethan could possibly be at, but someone had stopped her every time. She couldn't even get close to him. It had taken all her connections to get Ethan's address; she'd waited outside for him from 3:00 am onward for several days in a row. Still, she'd failed to even get close to him, let alone speak to him. "Mr. Sawyer just called us. If you show up here again tomorrow, you'll have to pay!" one of the bodyguards warned. Melody looked back at them and pleaded, "Can you please just let me see Mr. Ford? I only have a few things to say to himโit'll only take five minutes! It's about something important, I swear. This has to do with someone's life!" Chapter 4 "Every woman who wants to see Mr. Ford says they need him to save lives! He's not interested in you, okay? There's no point throwing yourself at him," one bodyguard snapped. "Get lost! Don't come here anymore!" another said. They looked like they would resort to violence if Melody refused to leave. She had no choice but to get up and trudge down the mountain, looking glum. "It's rare to see such a gorgeous woman. I'm sure she'd be set for life if she were to go after some other rich kid. Too bad she's greedyโdoesn't she realize where she is? Even Phoebe Shaw, that award-winning actress, isn't worthy of shining Mr. Ford's shoes, let alone her!" one bodyguard said. "You're right about her not knowing her place, but I have to say that she's a lot prettier than Phoebe Shaw," the other said. They continued chatting as they headed into the villa. โฆ It was already the afternoon by the time Melody returned to the hospital. She saw Clive Zimmerman's attending physician, Tom Filbert, come out of the hospital room before Clive's. She hurried over to him. "Dr. Filbert, how has Clive been recently?" "Oh, Mrs. Zimmerman. I've already made your husband's condition clear to youโwe need to find a matching donor as soon as possible for the bone marrow transplant. Otherwiseโฆ" Tom shook his head. Melody paled. Tom continued, "The hospital's been searching for a matching donor, but your husband's condition is deteriorating too quickly. He's running out of time. "As his family, you need to work with us. Try to think of any relatives he might have and bring them to the hospital so we can check their bone marrow. Maybe one of them might be a matchโฆ" Melody paled even more. Tom continued talking, but she couldn't really hear him anymore. She asked with difficulty, "How long does he still have if we can't find a donor?" Tom shook his head. "The bone marrow transplant has to be done within a month. Otherwise, he'll only have three to five months at most." Melody clenched her jaw; her expression became resolute. "I've already found a bone marrow that matches Clive's, but the person hasn't agreed to become a donor yet. I'll find a way to persuade him! "Please make the necessary arrangements for the transplant, Dr. Filbert. I'll bring the donor over before the surgery!" "That's great! I'll arrange for the transplant to be done in ten days, then. Remember to bring the donor over as soon as possibleโhe needs to be checked before the surgery." "Alright." Melody nodded. But once Tom was gone, she slumped against the wall weakly. What was she going to do? The surgery was in ten days, but she'd made zero progress. She hadn't even gotten close to Ethan, let alone persuaded him to donate his bone marrow to Clive. Ethan was the wealthiest man in Emperia, after all. A hair on his head was worth more than most other individuals' lives. Even if she did manage to speak to him, how was she going to get him to agree to help Clive? What was she going to do? Melody approached Clive's hospital room. Before she opened the door, she heard her children, Jacob and Jamie Swanson, singing. They were singing an Enolian song that had been dedicated to the singer's father. Melody peeped inside through the window on the door. Jacob and Jamie wore identical uniforms as they stood hand-in-hand before the window. The sunlight shone down on them, and they swayed on the spot while singing. Clive sat up in bed, also basking in the sunlight as he clapped his hands to the beat of the song. The hospital gown he had on looked too big for him because of the weight he'd lost, and he looked rather haggard. It didn't take away from his good looks, though. There was a gentle smile on his face. He didn't look like a patient who was on the brink of death. Instead, he looked like a patron of the artsโone who was enjoying a grand musical. Melody's eyes turned red. She turned away to dry her tears. Chapter 5 Five years ago, Melody had been kicked out of her home without a penny. At the time, she'd already carried Jacob and Jamie. When she'd been backed into a corner, Clive had taken her in. Not only had he helped her quit school, but he'd also taken care of her the whole time. Later, he'd even offered to marry her so that Jacob and Jamie wouldn't end up becoming illegitimate children. He'd helped her too many times to count over the yearsโshe had to repay him. His parents and relatives were all dead, and he now had serious disease. If she were to give up on him, he could only wait for death to take him. He was still so young and outstanding; this wasn't the end he deserved! No matter what, Melody had to convince Ethan to donate his bone marrow to Clive. She didn't care how difficult it would be! โฆ That night, Melody hid in a storage room at Privo Country Club, Tottenstone's most exclusive club. An auction was being held there that night, and it had taken her some time to find out that Ethan would be in attendance. Anyone who could get an invitation to the auction had to be a bigwig in Emperia's business world or an influential politician; Melody was neither, so she didn't have an invitation. Fortunately, she'd heard about the organizers of the auction holding something of a show for young women at the very end of the auction. It was supposed to be a show, but it was more like the young women were auctioning off their first time. Like regular auctions, the highest bidder would get. As long as Melody could blend in with them, she would have the chance to get to Ethan. At the moment, the young women who were being auctioned were standing by in the waiting room opposite the storage room. Melody was waiting for a chance to sneak in when she suddenly heard a muffled conversation outside. "Come with me!" "Listen to me, Ned. I came here willinglyโas long as someone bids on me tonight, we'll have money for your mother's medical bills. It's worth giving up my cherry to save her life!" "I don't need you to sacrifice yourself for me like this, Elaine! I love you! I've managed to get the money, so let's go!" "Really?" "Yeah!" "That's great! Let's go!" The footsteps faded into the distance. Melody came out of the storage room. She picked up the clothes and name tag that read "Elaine Johnson" from the floor and smiled as she looked down the corridor. She wished the couple all the best and also thanked them for this opportunity. An hour later, Melody stood barefoot on the marble floor, wearing only a bikini as she waited for her turn. "Next, let's welcome the beautiful Ms. Elaine Johnson, our eighth participant of the night! She's still a college student, everyone." The host's voice rang out on the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, Melody hesitated. She'd never worn anything so revealing in public before. "Get in there! What are you doing?" When an employee saw her standing there dazedly, he pushed her. She was caught off guard and stumbled onto the stage. The blinding spotlight landed on her; she could sense countless men staring at her. Melody stood there stiffly, so helpless that she was unable to move. Ethan wasn't the slightest bit interested in these things. He'd intended to leave immediately after the auction was over, but Wayne Smith of Ditham Corporation had approached him for a chat. He'd answered him perfunctorily while glancing at the stage. Then, he saw Melody. He narrowed his eyes and sat up, the laziness he'd earlier displayed fading from sight. The lights reflected off Melody's fair skin; they made her look like she was almost glowing. She didn't strut and show her stuff like those women before her. Instead, she stood there with her head bowed so no one could see what she looked like. All they could see was her silky smooth hair. But to Ethan, the sight of her was enough to arouse him. It was like a fire had started burning in him. On stage, Melody remained silent, feeling pierced by the men's gazes. They made her feel like she was standing there in her birthday suit. Chapter 6 Melody knew she couldn't act like this. She was here to look for Ethan; she had to save Clive's life! She couldn't act like this! She clenched her jaw and raised her head, revealing her innocent yet sensual face to the crowd. After a round of gasps, auction paddles flew into the air. "100,000!" "200,000!" "500,000!" "580,000!" โฆ Melody couldn't hear the sound of the bidding anymoreโshe was too anxious to track Ethan down. He was the wealthiest man in Emperia and the CEO of Regalia International, so he frequently made headlines. She'd long since committed his handsome face to memory. But before she could locate him, she felt a strong sense of oppression coming her way. She instinctively looked at the direction from which it had come. Then, she met a man's gaze. His eyes were cold and calm, yet there seemed to be molten lava buried within them. She could sense his kingly demeanor as his eyes threatened to suck her in. Melody lowered her head. He was terrifying. When Ethan saw her drop her head to avoid his gaze, he smirked. Wayne noticed this and stopped talking to glance at the stage. Then, his eyes lit up, and he chuckled. "She's a gorgeous one, isn't she? Are you interested in her, Mr. Ford?" Ethan didn't answer. Instead, he lifted a hand. James hurried forward to await his instruction. "I want her!" Ethan said. Then, he stood up and strode off. Several people had been bidding on Melody, but they stopped when they saw Ethan stand up. They got to their feet simultaneously to see him off. James hurriedly held up the auction paddle in his hand. He didn't even need to call out a priceโno one else would dare bid on Melody. Who would dare to do so now that they knew Ethan was interested in her? They'd be getting themselves a one-way ticket to bankruptcy if they were to try to fight him for her. On stage, the host cried excitedly, "Oh! Mr. Ford's won the auction for our lovely Ms. Johnson! Looks like someone's in luck!" Melody didn't know how she was led off stage. She followed the employees dazedly and asked them incredulously, "Is Mr. Ford really the one who bid on me? Mr. Ethan Ford? The CEO of Regalia International?" The employees could totally understand why she was acting like this. Anyone would be out of their minds with joy if Ethan were to pick them. "Would there be anyone else with that name? Congratulations, miss. Come with me, please. I'll take you to get your clothes changed. We don't want to keep Mr. Ford waiting." "She's so lucky!" "It's not like she has such a great figure. She's not even that pretty!" "Why didn't he pick me? That was Ethan Ford! I would've paid to be with him!" "Yeah, keep dreaming. You wouldn't be worthy of him even if you were to give up everything you own! Didn't you hear about the granddaughter of some country's leader trying and failing to spend a night with Mr. Ford? She offered to pay him a hefty sum, too!" โฆ As Melody followed the employees away, she heard the other women participating in the auction whispering among themselves about her. None of their words registered, though. She was still in disbelief that she'd succeeded just like that. Things had gone so smoothly! How was she going to beg him to agree to donate his bone marrow? Would he be moved if she were to get on her knees before him? Ten minutes later, Melody had changed into a white strappy minidress and a matching pair of 4-inch heels. She was brought to the 28th floor. | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889497 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889500 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889501 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188531 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889888 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188613 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1231837204848570 | 1 | 4.4314837866349E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 184546378248086 | 0 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | 6593462539540 | learn.goodguyscontracting.com | Get Quote | NONE | carousel | Free Quote Within 24 Hours | http://www.goodguyscontracting.com/ | 1718031416 | 1.8454637824809E+14 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448018991_7668389939915003_5115888738860964365_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YbPH-H5vDSYQ7kNvgHbrBnf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC0-r7wtktpo73MG2-JdrYB8rL-EfGInoxqXlWUSMsEg&oe=667EA059 | person_profile | 0 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448017290_981115470375807_5496708855715560003_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TZLpZcyDVocQ7kNvgE1ipu_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBV75VmYAhrV6rGBykprWHZjqdjiC-Kc4zmCtLww-CaQg&oe=667EA84C | 0 | 3 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | 675 | https://facebook.com/GoodGuysContracting | 0 | GET_QUOTE | 1718002800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889504 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188531 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889506 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188532 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889508 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188532 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889510 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188533 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 949279386902962 | 7 | 1.4895026953017E+15 | 1716188400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716015600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889513 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188533 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889514 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188533 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889516 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889518 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889520 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889521 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1027954248973294 | 1 | 2.6371620431247E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286700281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701047 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448482096_7739881232714098_4824747803552652022_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vXjpTx4hm3QQ7kNvgEJJWi8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB3uHwcUgr-gZ3XIBx61gHyjMbMsYyzoM52Vc3_F0JRrw&oe=667E8BC8 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448483656_1209075263444616_5196523847252627931_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k1X2hZv-91kQ7kNvgGJvzA7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC-wlV1ydR7_yY_6Gm4Sjp7Pa5c-886k8X02YWHXefNVg&oe=667E9EF5 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889524 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1192109398592306 | 1 | 4.0292955941254E+14 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212168974220747 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11845&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717848761 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447489360_1570538763510112_7450994158117535812_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PtQk_K4TR-UQ7kNvgFwxRGn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDAk2SX5ZXVijpeWSzG3xLE0EXojAjvnGA4j5GhlExR5A&oe=667E8E4C | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447282104_397151349972868_7799700873941453060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tN_HM-iYUoQ7kNvgEBxrPO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCH8HnZAVgJ1fPCSs2ERV0G-iU8ej_rpAakhBl92YXKkQ&oe=667E9C02 | 0 | 3 | Lexi could sense the man was staring at her swollen right cheek. It didn't seem like he would take his eyes off her anytime. "I know I'm so pretty that people can't help but gawk at me." Claude's lips curved up. "You look very familiar." Lexi's eyes remained on the climbing numbers on the elevator's digital display. "That's a tacky way to hit on someone." "I've never needed to hit on anyone." Claude flashed a reticent smile. "I'm only stating the truth. There was a laziness and silkiness to his voice. Lexi looked ahead at the elevator's mirrored walls and took in Claude, who stood to her left. She didn't recall ever interacting with him, much less meeting him. To her surprise, Claude suddenly approached her. His intimidating presence overwhelmed her so much that she took a few steps back. "Can I help you?" she questioned with a stiff voice. Lexi held her breath. They were so close to each other that she could smell the faint pine scent from his body. "Do you really not recognize me?" Claude asked. "I don't." Claude straightened his back and peered down at her. When the elevator door opened on the tenth floor, he stepped aside. Doubt gnawed at her heart. She could have sworn she didn't know the man, but why did he seem to know her? โฆ That night, Lexi had a dream. She dreamt of the night from two months ago. The wild night left her all sweaty. Zachary held her waist and tried out several positions with her. It left Lexi limp with barely any energy left. Not to mention, she was so drunk that she was in a daze. When Lexi woke, she massaged her forehead. The dream she had turned out to be a tad frightening. The man she slept with two months ago was Zachary. Yet, for some reason, he got replaced by the man from the elevator in her dream. | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717916400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889526 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1192109398592306 | 1 | 4.0292955941254E+14 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212168974220747 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11845&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717848761 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447489360_1570538763510112_7450994158117535812_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PtQk_K4TR-UQ7kNvgFwxRGn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDAk2SX5ZXVijpeWSzG3xLE0EXojAjvnGA4j5GhlExR5A&oe=667E8E4C | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447282104_397151349972868_7799700873941453060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tN_HM-iYUoQ7kNvgEBxrPO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCH8HnZAVgJ1fPCSs2ERV0G-iU8ej_rpAakhBl92YXKkQ&oe=667E9C02 | 0 | 3 | Lexi could sense the man was staring at her swollen right cheek. It didn't seem like he would take his eyes off her anytime. "I know I'm so pretty that people can't help but gawk at me." Claude's lips curved up. "You look very familiar." Lexi's eyes remained on the climbing numbers on the elevator's digital display. "That's a tacky way to hit on someone." "I've never needed to hit on anyone." Claude flashed a reticent smile. "I'm only stating the truth. There was a laziness and silkiness to his voice. Lexi looked ahead at the elevator's mirrored walls and took in Claude, who stood to her left. She didn't recall ever interacting with him, much less meeting him. To her surprise, Claude suddenly approached her. His intimidating presence overwhelmed her so much that she took a few steps back. "Can I help you?" she questioned with a stiff voice. Lexi held her breath. They were so close to each other that she could smell the faint pine scent from his body. "Do you really not recognize me?" Claude asked. "I don't." Claude straightened his back and peered down at her. When the elevator door opened on the tenth floor, he stepped aside. Doubt gnawed at her heart. She could have sworn she didn't know the man, but why did he seem to know her? โฆ That night, Lexi had a dream. She dreamt of the night from two months ago. The wild night left her all sweaty. Zachary held her waist and tried out several positions with her. It left Lexi limp with barely any energy left. Not to mention, she was so drunk that she was in a daze. When Lexi woke, she massaged her forehead. The dream she had turned out to be a tad frightening. The man she slept with two months ago was Zachary. Yet, for some reason, he got replaced by the man from the elevator in her dream. | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717916400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889528 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1192109398592306 | 1 | 4.0292955941254E+14 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212168974220747 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11845&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717848761 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447489360_1570538763510112_7450994158117535812_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PtQk_K4TR-UQ7kNvgFwxRGn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDAk2SX5ZXVijpeWSzG3xLE0EXojAjvnGA4j5GhlExR5A&oe=667E8E4C | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447282104_397151349972868_7799700873941453060_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0tN_HM-iYUoQ7kNvgEBxrPO&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCH8HnZAVgJ1fPCSs2ERV0G-iU8ej_rpAakhBl92YXKkQ&oe=667E9C02 | 0 | 3 | Lexi could sense the man was staring at her swollen right cheek. It didn't seem like he would take his eyes off her anytime. "I know I'm so pretty that people can't help but gawk at me." Claude's lips curved up. "You look very familiar." Lexi's eyes remained on the climbing numbers on the elevator's digital display. "That's a tacky way to hit on someone." "I've never needed to hit on anyone." Claude flashed a reticent smile. "I'm only stating the truth. There was a laziness and silkiness to his voice. Lexi looked ahead at the elevator's mirrored walls and took in Claude, who stood to her left. She didn't recall ever interacting with him, much less meeting him. To her surprise, Claude suddenly approached her. His intimidating presence overwhelmed her so much that she took a few steps back. "Can I help you?" she questioned with a stiff voice. Lexi held her breath. They were so close to each other that she could smell the faint pine scent from his body. "Do you really not recognize me?" Claude asked. "I don't." Claude straightened his back and peered down at her. When the elevator door opened on the tenth floor, he stepped aside. Doubt gnawed at her heart. She could have sworn she didn't know the man, but why did he seem to know her? โฆ That night, Lexi had a dream. She dreamt of the night from two months ago. The wild night left her all sweaty. Zachary held her waist and tried out several positions with her. It left Lexi limp with barely any energy left. Not to mention, she was so drunk that she was in a daze. When Lexi woke, she massaged her forehead. The dream she had turned out to be a tad frightening. The man she slept with two months ago was Zachary. Yet, for some reason, he got replaced by the man from the elevator in her dream. | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717916400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889529 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889530 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889533 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889536 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889537 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889540 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889542 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889544 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889546 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889548 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1615063025702328 | 1 | 3.3516291184737E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209919884500281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12034&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718627707 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448504052_1174824520532499_5146174186783448301_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YjPa9kTju0QQ7kNvgGd_cYc&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC6A-tda9YnDXlq5HuN4pNBwN9UiFlhUa9Y6GtQ_74bFA&oe=667E9D64 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448562715_355758844204599_2759284727772628527_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LGJY4ADMX2kQ7kNvgEZqfP_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD788mOC8Y8x_GSOlH5Sz5xCKY9HgwkKnC2cDsYvo0yHw&oe=667E7DED | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889550 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889552 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889553 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889554 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889556 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889557 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889558 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188535 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 8141941659173503 | 1 | 4.4633283477361E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209934224820281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718682333 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448656399_754052176658275_48798026999812466_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=L9n-itV0oDYQ7kNvgG0rUr4&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXHONYdf0gTW78E1Y__RcWJkiIpNyOXi3KmS6teJKgmg&oe=667E8FD0 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448674125_1173535697176604_8787980066497690809_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9MByGePK9CoQ7kNvgGCLygB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDj1G_XeJSRw99Y0MohdGoxqFmLcm0qOJO28WYhT5hLNg&oe=667E8A90 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power and became Alpha after their fatherโs sudden demise. My heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was?โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile curving his lips. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the want he ignited in me. His hands cover my body, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โI hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing. Youโre mine.โ | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889561 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188536 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 473895665007351 | 1 | 1.6823405192628E+15 | 1718607600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210831282940694 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12010&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718449152 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448474492_477425897990902_5859099645181633260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=94KsICieoIIQ7kNvgHj8G9C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGxauaLE26bV8qKOejW0NELv3ujOlRSwZ0jeaP4Wihug&oe=667E8790 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448291144_1520610988804465_6910910276593027007_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r_ZPDlRpsM0Q7kNvgEqRCpn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK5cQdMZukDF7-6GST0kZTuh9Gey6MDFQ_Ty2tHS-8TA&oe=667EA428 | 0 | 3 | I know an Omega and an alpha became best friends, which is weird. Especially, he still comes to visit my bed every morning. "Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." 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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." 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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12010&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718449152 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448474492_477425897990902_5859099645181633260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=94KsICieoIIQ7kNvgHj8G9C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGxauaLE26bV8qKOejW0NELv3ujOlRSwZ0jeaP4Wihug&oe=667E8790 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448291144_1520610988804465_6910910276593027007_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r_ZPDlRpsM0Q7kNvgEqRCpn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK5cQdMZukDF7-6GST0kZTuh9Gey6MDFQ_Ty2tHS-8TA&oe=667EA428 | 0 | 3 | I know an Omega and an alpha became best friends, which is weird. Especially, he still comes to visit my bed every morning. "Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889590 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188540 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 393988696787729 | 134 | 1.8854502285745E+15 | 1717916400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 108401345691237 | 0 | JoyReels | 120206471639420590 | play.google.com | Watch more | NONE | video | Watch the whole series NOW! | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joyreels.video | 1714048912 | 1.0840134569124E+14 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438204857_3774980206154972_7237058433935536135_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2F3N5DdXissQ7kNvgFEcpOK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCxSKD0A-kEsGqpsPRwDQZYl6bt_2cWXZXngduHvZij1g&oe=667EA72F | person_profile | 0 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438231205_299938246533722_5103852333164820359_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=g2SnGyBvscQQ7kNvgEJ3xQl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAETVnCdRiE6OmtG1Q43VrWdCr8cS0_m2aCXxN1-Uvqmw&oe=667E98D6 | 0 | 3 | After humiliated by his bride-to-be on the wedding rehearsal but Adam was soon told his true identity as the heir of the richest family in the US. On the journey of returning as a CEO, taking over his familyโs business, our true heir gradually finds out his true love, who has been by his side from the very beginningโฆ | JoyReels | 2599 | https://facebook.com/JoyReels02 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1714201200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889593 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188540 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. I am never going back to that sad reality. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716534000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889596 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188542 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. I am never going back to that sad reality. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716534000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889598 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188542 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. 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| 1889628 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188548 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889631 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188549 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 328628403299992 | 1 | 6.7053029729062E+15 | 1714806000 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 321330554388277 | 0 | Start Reading | 120207810472520056 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11192&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714573086 | 3.2133055438828E+14 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441206868_1116532276285473_1322182524522961747_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=CDxtnBdYDpwQ7kNvgGOoIpS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBAKwhR5TKPQH3GZodkUZVIkdS8ZfU9nF3dZsSQNKFZ8Q&oe=667E9A89 | person_profile | 0 | Start Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440418966_448917680872294_3438075365541597509_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9Sy1L3lDMzEQ7kNvgFlIhsq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDIUwe1fEPGcops-iFhNlCPI-XMm1ohdeTHXfzgce4TGg&oe=667E728C | 0 | 3 | Evelynโs POV I sat at the bar, downing drinks and trying to forget about my problems. โPour me another, please,โ I said to the bartender. As the omega refilled my glass, I looked at my phone and sighed for the umpteenth time. Still no word from my boyfriend, Alex, and no news from my fatherโs doctor either. Just as Iโd prayed the moon goddess would spare my mother and bring her back to me, I now prayed for my fatherโs life. Out of the blue, heโd slipped into a coma, and a month later, the doctors still had no answers. Meanwhile, I lost hope and my heart broke more with each passing day. The pack wasnโt faring well without their alpha, either. They needed a leader, and as my fatherโs only legitimate child, I would become the next alpha of my pack if he didnโt make it. I sighed again as I wondered if the pack would be better off with my stepbrother Kevin in the role. He was a male with a powerful wolf. Conversely, I was a female with no wolf. If that werenโt bad enough, an ug-ly scar that ran from my cheek to my ear marred my face so prominently that others stared constantly. Even patrons in the bar stared, though I did my best to ignore them. I took a swig, downing the last of my drink. โAnother,โ I said to the bartender. โMiss, youโve had quite a lot already. Maybe itโs best to stop and go home for now?โ the bartender, an obvious omega said. I looked at her and rolled my eyes. โI donโt want to go home. I want to drink until I forget about life. So give me another, please.โ As the bartender hesitated, a waiter approached. โI have the perfect drink for you,โ said the omega. โA new brand of whiskey, and itโs strong. Itโll take the edge off and make you forget. I can promise you that.โ โIโll take it,โ I slurred. The omega waiter nodded. โVery well. Iโll be back in a jiffy.โ Once he left, I focused on my phone once again. Still nothing from Alex or my fatherโs doctor. A minute later, the omega waiter approached with an open bottle. โHere you go. Thisโll help you forget all your worries and cares. Dare I say, youโll be in ecstasy for at least forty-eight hours.โ โYouโd do well, as a brand ambassador,โ I said with a chuckle. โAll right. Let me sample its glories.โ The waiter nodded and poured a substantial amount into my tumbler. I tipped the glass back, gulped its contents in a single swig, then slammed the tumbler back onto the bar. I addressed the bartender as I grabbed my bag to retrieve my wallet. โTab, please.โ It was time for me to get going. I needed to see my father. The bartender acknowledged my request, then walked to the register. Before the bartender got there, my image wavered. I rubbed my suddenly blurry eyes. โWhat the heck?โ I mumbled as I stood. I almost ended up on the barroom floor, barely able to catch myself in time. I gripped the edge of the bar, working to stay upright. The omega waiter rushed to me, grabbing me by the waist to help me. โPrincess, are you okay?โ I gently extracted myself from him. โYeah. Fine,โ I said, then put a hand to my forehead. Too hot, and my stomach was queasy too. That thought barely registered before blackness engulfed me. Sometime later, I sighed, then opened my eyes. My face twisted in confusion. โThis is not my house. It looked more like a hotel room. What was I doing here? And how did I get here?โ I muttered to myself, rubbing my blurry eyes. Before I could think long enough to answer either of those questions, giggling came from the room next door. Then a familiar female voice said, โOh, Alex. Do you know how long Iโve waited for you to touch me?โ I covered my mouth to hold back a gasp. Iโd know that voice anywhere. It was my stepmother, Quinn. But what โAlexโ was she talking to? It couldnโt be my Alex. That couldnโt be possible. Even the idea of that was outrageous. Yet, I didnโt know any other Alex, and I didnโt think Quinn did either. Still, there had to be some reasonable explanation. My legs felt like jelly, so I used the roomโs furniture and walls for balance as I staggered to the hotel room door. I opened it and, with blurry vision, looked around. When I didnโt see anyone, I walked to the next door. Quinnโs voice came from the other side. โYouโre not truly going to marry that scarred wench, are you? I mean, she doesnโt even have a wolf. Meanwhile, you could easily have all of this with me.โ โTrue,โ said a male voiceโAlexโs voice. My Alex! What the hel? How could he? โBut sheโs the heiress,โ he said, continuing. โAnd I can always come to your room at night whenever I get bored with her.โ Quinn chuckled, and I could barely believe what I was hearing. So it was all about me being the daughter of their alpha. Alex was with me just to get his hands on my fatherโs properties and wealth. โPlease,โ Quinn said flippantly. โShe might be Alphaโs daughter, but with that scarred face of hers and no wolf, sheโs no better than a rogue omega. Itโll be my son, Kevin, who ends up with everything, not that weak girl. Besides, youโre too handsome to have such a disgusting wife.โ I folded my fists in anger. How evil could Quinn be? And Alexโcould he be more of an ingrate? Still, I couldnโt help but press my ear to the door to hear more. โYou say that like itโs a certainty,โ Alex said. โJust remember that, unless I marry Evelyn, Kevin gets nothing.โ So they had a plan. Alex intended to marry me to secure the properties and the seat of the pack. Then it seemed he, along with Quinn, intended to ensure everything would somehow be transferred to Quinnโs son, Kevin. Theyโd plotted against me! I had to pick my gaping mouth up off the floor. โBut enough with all that for now,โ said Alex. โI want a taste of that fleshy hole of yours.โ โOnly if you tell me I can steal you away from that silly girl. She doesnโt deserve you. Youโre too good for her.โ Alex laughed. โOf course. Once everythingโs in place, you can do whatever you want with her. In the meantime, you can still have me, especially once me and Evelyn are married, and all of us are living in the same house.โ โNo worries about access,โ Quinn said with a giggle. โThatโs right,โ Alex said. โAnd Iโm looking forward to having constant access to this beautiful succulent body of yours, too.โ I couldnโt take any more. I barged into the hotel room, allowing the back of the door to slam against the wall. โHow dare you!โ I thundered. Chapter 2 I stare from Quinnโs nonchalant face to Alexโs petrified face. โYou ungrateful slime!โ I yelled. I reached for the vase on the roomโs front table and flung it at Alexโs head. He ducked, and the vase hit the wall behind him, shattering. That I missed made me even angrier. Quinn wore a smug smirk as I staggered a few steps into the room. I shook my head. It didnโt feel right. It felt like something more than a hangover, like Iโd been poisoned. Still, I wanted to pounce on these two traitors, so I pressed on, getting dizzier by the step. Quinnโs smirk grew evil as she saw me struggle to keep consciousness. She looked like a villain whose plan was falling into place perfectly. I saw it, the mischievous look in her eyes. It seemed like it had been her plan for Me to get poisoned, and be brought here, so I could find her and Alex in Bed. โWhat can you do about it?โ She asked Me and I scoffed, unable to believe the amount of shamelessness I was seeing in Quinn. Then ignored her, turning my attention to Alex. โI fcking trusted you!โ I screamed. โHow could you do this? And with my stepmother? Whatโs wrong with you?โ โOh, stop being such a drama queen,โ Alex said. โWhat if I have an interest in older women? That doesnโt mean I don't love you.โ โThatโs my fuking stepmother, Alex! My dadโs wife! This is the height of immorality,โ I said, shaking my head. โI can't believe you! Really!โ I yelled again. โEve, dear,โ Quinn said, โyou need to stop yelling. You donโt seem well.โ I glared at her and clenched my fists, wanting to pummel the two of them until they couldnโt feel anything but pain. Instead, I said, โDonโt pretend to care about me. You think I donโt know how much you hate me? Goddess knows, you donโt hesitate to show it. So stop pretending like you really care what happens to me. For all I know, you planned this whole thing so I could see you both, have a heart attack, and die.โ Quinn gasped and laughed mockingly. โI am not that creative, Evelyn. Besides, why would I want you to know Alex and I fell in love?โ I stared at her in disbelief. โIn love? You conniving snake. It's only been a month since Father slipped into a coma, and youโre claiming to be in love? With my boyfriend?โ Alex came over and rubbed my arms. โNow, calm down.โ I kept my focus on Quinn as I got away from Alex. โHow shameless can you be? Is your love that fickle? Does it change that fast?โ โCome on,โ Alex said, drawing my eyes. โIt's no big thing. Hey, maybe you could even join us. What do you think?โ I glared at him. โJoinโฆ?โ I landed a loud slap on his face. โYou filthy pig. Youโre worse than a rogue. And you donโt think thereโs anything immoral about what youโre suggesting? About what youโre doing? Sleeping with my stepmotherโฆ your future mother-in-law?โ Alexโs face contorted into a frown. โOh, stop being such a goody two shoes.โ Alex grabbed my elbows. I pulled away from him. โDonโt touch me! To think I wanted to be your wife. Ever since the day I met you, I wanted that, too. How silly of me. I should have heeded the warnings about you.โ โDonโt be disrespectful, Eve,โ Quinn said. โIโm still your fatherโs wife and head of this pack. And I will not tolerate it.โ โLeader of the pack? Is that so? You havenโt even done anything to find out why my father, your husband, ended up in a coma. Pfft. Youโre a terrible excuse for a leaderโฆ and a mother.โ โExcuse me?โ Quinn rose from the bed and approached with her eyes narrowed. โAre you undermining me?โ I shook my head. โSimply stating the bitter truth. Ever since you came into my fatherโs house, thereโs been nothing but pain and discomfort. I wish it was you instead of my dad in that coma.โ Quinn slapped me hard across the face. โThatโs for your insolence.โ She slapped me again just as hard. โThatโs for hitting Alex.โ She slapped me once more. โAnd thatโs for wishing me dead.โ Alex grabbed her hand. โQuinn, please. Thatโs enough.โ Quinn glared at him. โThis young lady is a spoiled brat. She needs to be taught a lesson.โ She turned back to me. โIโm in charge of this pack and also your legal guardian, and Iโve had it up to my guts with your tantrums.โ I stared at her in disbelief. โWake the fvck up, Eve,โ Quinn yelled. โI make the rules now, and you will do as I say. Do you hear me, you worthless omega?โ I wished I had a wolf so I could shift and have it out with this crazy bit-ch. But maybe not having a wolf was what allowed me to remain calm, despite the fact that Iโd never been hit in the face before. Either way, I kept my cool while I stared into my adulterous stepmotherโs eyes. Eventually, I shook her head and said, โYou disgust me,โ then turned and left the room. As the door closed behind me, tears came to my eyes. What a betrayal. As if it werenโt bad enough that Alex cheated on me, he chose to do it with my stepmother. Why? Why me, of all people? I aimlessly headed back to the room I came from, still staggering to get my things. I opened the door and then stopped, wondering why she was bothering to go back there. Everything was a blur, and I wasnโt sure if it was because of my welling eyes or the pill Iโd obviously been given. But then I felt a presence behind me. Chapter 3 โWho are you?โ I asked, as I tried to shake off the wave of discomfort and dizziness that had suddenly hit me. I wiped my eyes. โYou!โ I exclaimed, looking at the omega waiter from the bar. โWhat are you doing here?โ Nerves crept up my spine as I stared at the man who had given me the drinkโthe drink that had obviously been dru-gged. โOh, come on Princess.โ He stepped forward, forcing me to go back up into the room. โYou know why Iโm here,โ he said with a wicked grin. โAnd your body wants it. I know it does.โ I wanted to puke, โPlease let me go home. I need to go home to my dad.โ โIโll let you go homeโโhe started to unclasp his beltโโas soon as you give me what I want.โ I backed up another step. โIt will be over soon, Princess. I promise.โ โWhy?โ I asked, still seeing him through blurry eyes and wondering if there was any way I could escape him. He gave me a perverted smile, then wagged his brows. โWell, your body is a nice prize on its own, but there are better reasons.โ I didnโt need him to tell me those reasons. If he took my first time, I'd be forced to marry him, which would damage my reputation and leave utterly no chance of becoming an Alpha heir. I couldnโt bear the thought of sleep with him, let alone marrying him. I had to find a way out. But the blurry vision was making me dizzy. All I thought to do was plead. โI need to get home immediately,โ I said as authoritatively as I could in my current condition. โIt's late.โ The omega smirked. โYou know I canโt let you leave, Princess. Not without a taste of the forbidden fruit.โ He approached. As soon as he got within range, I slapped him hard with all the strength I could find. His face twisted in rage. โThis isn't the fuking palace.โ He hit me back so hard that he knocked me onto the bed. โThis is my turf. I do as I wish.โ Alex POV โWe need to get Eve,โ I said. โShe didnโt look too good.โ Quinn stared at me in disgust. โAre you really worrying about her right now?โ I looked at my phone, biting my finger as I saw all of Eveโs messages for the first time. And now, she wasnโt responding to me. What if she went off and slept with some other guy? I turned to Quinn. โIโm just worried. She didnโt look well. She seemed off, like she was sick or something.โ Quinn rose from the bed and sauntered to a table in the corner, where she picked up a bottle of booze and poured a glass. With the glass in hand, she strutted seductively back to me. โHere. Drink this. It would help calm you.โ I accepted the drink and took a gulp, then walked to the window. Quinn approached from behind and wrapped her arms around my bare waist. โI fear she isn't okay,โ I said. Quinn sighed in irritation. โShe was drunk. Thatโs how she is these days. She gets drunk, and I don't even know her whereabouts. She probably goes out sleeping around. Maybe sheโs out sleeping with some omega right now,โ she said with mischief in her voice. I spun around, squinting at her. โWait a second. Did youโฆ? Was this your idea, when you said I should be your sneaky link? You know I can't afford to lose Eve.โ Quinn sighed. โWas what my idea? To get her drunk and have her brought to our hotel? Pfft. Donโt accuse me of such outrageous things. Yes, I wanted her to find out about us, but I didnโt do that.โ I ran my hands through my hair, unsure whether I should believe her. โAnd why are you so worried about her sleeping around?โ Quinn asked. โWhy should you care what she does?โ โFuk,โ I whispered. I always knew this play-boy attitude of mine would get me into a ton of trouble one day, but I never expected it to be with a girl I actually cared about. Yes, I was using her for her inheritance, but that didnโt mean I had no feelings for her. โListen,โ Quinn said. โIโm sure you feel like sheโll betray you because you betrayed her. But do you really think sheโll risk it, knowing sheโll have to marry anyone she sleeps with? Not only that, in her position, Eve would lose her dignity in the community, too. Sheโd end up begging you to take her back.โ โAre you sure about that?โ Quinn took the glass from me and kissed me slowly. Once she drew her li-ps away from mine, she peered at me. โIโm here to help you,โ she said. โSo even if she doesnโt beg for you, I can always ensure you end up owning some Carson family properties. Iโm married to Alpha Carson after all.โ She bit her li-ps seductively. โSo be a good boy and come undress me.โ Something pricked in the back of my mind, a warning I couldnโt put into words. But it was something that told me to resist her, that I couldnโt trust her. But I wanted her, so I put a lid on that warning, and a few minutes later, my tongue grazed her vagi-na. Chapter 4 Evelyn POV I struggled to keep my head straight, as I fought for consciousness. I heard footsteps and I knew that the weird omega was back. I staggered up, reaching for a weapon. My hand found the neck of an empty wine bottle. I swung it in an arc and hit him across the head. He went down with a thud, and I ran out of the room and directly into a man. โI'm sorry,โ I mumbled as I tried to scoot past him. โMiss, are you alright?โ he asked. I turned and saw the omega coming after me. โHelp me,โ I said, with panicked eyes and a voice filled with urgency. The stranger saw the omega, grabbed my wrist, then dragged me into his room. In one smooth motion, he slammed the door shut, locked it, then spun me into his che-st With fear of the omega still overwhelming me, I buried my face in his arms and whimpered weakly, latching onto his trousers to steady myself. โHeโs gone,โ said the stranger. I raised my head from his bare front body and peered at him. Despite my blurry vision, I could tell he was handsome. โWhatโs your name?โ I whispered. He chuckled, then backed away and walked to his table. โSuppose I told you, would you remember? You seem a little drunk.โ I shook my head. โI was poisoned. And there's still quite some amount in my system. But Iโll try to remember. Please, whatโs your name?โ โMy name isn't important. You look exhausted. I need to get you home.โ I chuckled. โIโd feel safer staying hereโฆ with you.โ He walked toward me. โI am a wolf in heat. You know what that means.โ It meant he wanted a woman se-xually. Any woman. โI can do just the same that omega could do to you. Are you still not afraid of me?โ I chuckled. โI just found my fiancรฉe cheating on me with my fatherโs wife. YouโโI rested my palm on his body the other hand, seem like an honorable person. I'd rather sleep with you than with that cheat or a creepy omega. Besides, you don't seem all that scary.โ I held his face, looking into his blue eyes. โA person with a story and many secrets, yes, but not scary.โ โYour li-ps are so beautiful, Evelyn,โ he said, and I looked up at him. โHow did you know my name?โ He chuckled and gestured to my necklace. โYour necklace says it. Am I wrong?โ โAh, right. Silly me. And here I thought you were one of those crazy stalkers I have.โ โAnd if I was? Would you run away?โ โNo,โ I whispered, and the stranger kissed me. I returned his kiss with a fervent passsion, and we gnawed at each otherโs li-ps, each trying to outdo the otherโs needs. I moaned as he kissed me. His hands wandered, touching me gently. A flicker of apprehension came to my mind, but I pushed it back, telling myself this was right. This was what I wanted. He struggled to unbutton my blouse while continuing to steal kisses from my li-ps. I sighed in pleasure when, moments later, his touch landed on my body and he latched hungrily at it. โOh, the goddess,โ I moaned as I wrapped my hands around his head. I felt the heat in my pusssy. โTo the moon goddess,โ he said, โyou have the most gorgeous body and eyes I have ever seen.โ He approached and wrapped his hands around my waist. He picked me up bridal style and carried me to the bed. There, he laid me on the mattress and kissed me again. With his tongue, he languidly strolled down my body to my mound, then inserted a finger. โSo tight,โ he growled. I moaned and squirmed under his touch, parting my legs further. He moaned in approval and then shifted, placing himself at my entrance. I flinched in fear when I saw the size of him. He noticed my apprehension and he stopped. โAre you all right?โ he asked. โDo you want me to stop?โ I shook my head. โNo. Itโs just that it's my first time.โ He chuckled and patted my hair. โIโll be gentle,โ he said and kissed me pass-ionately. My body soon became receptive, and he got into me slowly. I squirmed as he filled me, the sensation painful at first. He sighed in pleasure. โSo tight. So wet,โ he whispered, then kissed my forehead and drove his full length into me. I grabbed him and cried out. โShh. Shh. It's alright. Itโll feel good in a minute,โ he said and started moving inside me. Slowly, my body adjusted to his size, and I loosened my grip on his shoulders. As I relaxed around him, he could feel my calmness and he increased his pace. His growls and my moans filled the room, the both of us reaching the peak of ecstasy in unison. โI need to take a shower,โ I said after the climax subsided. He nodded and lifted me, taking me to the bathroom where he washed me. As he kissed me deeply with the water pouring over our bodies, mating tension rose between us againโฆ I woke early the next morning, feeling sore all over from the previous nightโs activities. The handsome stranger with whom I enjoyed those activities was still asleep. So I rose from the bed and went for my bag, leaving behind an envelope that contained a check. Then I got dressed and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door quietly behind me. Chapter 5 I stirred in my sleep, my body sore from the business of last night. Suddenly my eyes shot open, when I heard my bedroom door open, and in walked Quinn. I glared at her and shut my eyes. โSign of bad luck. I open my eyes and I see the adulterous stepmother of mine.โ I said sarcastically. Quinn glared at me and she opened my curtain window. โYou should get up. It's time for breakfast.โ I peered at her. โYou never care if I eat or not. Is this your guilty consciousness getting to you?โ Quinn studied me, and I squirmed uncomfortably under her intense gaze. โDid you have se-x last night?โ Quinn asked. I shot her a surprised look. โHmm. Seems like you did.โ Quinn said and I looked away. โI have no idea what you are talking about. Get out of my room.โ I said and Quinn walked towards me. She didnโt look convinced. โWeโll talk about this later,โ she said. โFor now, you have a pack function to attend, so come down for breakfast,โ Quinn said and walked out of the bedroom. I stared at my closed door and I wondered why all of a sudden, Quinn was so nice to me. I'd find out at breakfast. I got up to shower with the events of the previous night running through my mind. Wouldnโt it be nice if that was all I had to think about? A short while later, I went to the dining room where Kevin, my stepbrother, was seated at the tablet at Quinnโs right hand. But what caught my attention was Alex. โWhat are you doing here?โI clenched my fists in rage. โDonโt make a scene,โ Quinn said. โJust sit and have breakfast quietly.โ โI refuse to share a table with this scumbag,โ I said. โGet him out of here. Or rather, I wouldnโt want to disturb your happy family, so Iโd rather have my breakfast in my bedroom.โ Alex stood and held my hands. โEve, let's talk in private.โ Kevinโs gaze shifted from me to Quinn, to Alex. โWhatโs going on here? Is there something that I don't know about?โ Kelvin asked. He and Alex had been very good buddies and that's how he and I met. I kept my focus on Alex. โLet go of me. I have nothing to say to you.โ Alex simply stared at me. โI asked you not to make a fuss at breakfast,โ Quinn said. โWhy can't you obey simple instructions, hmm?โ I stared at Quinn in disbelief. โMaybe I would have yesterday when I still respected you. But not after my discovery last night.โ Kevin straightened in his chair and addressed me, โI can take anything you do, but I won't accept you insulting my mom, Evelyn. Just sit down if you are asked to.โ I shot him a glare. โYou stay out of this,โ I said and looked at Quinn. โOr would you like for me to tell your son about your shameful acts?โ โShut your trap,โ Quinn said, banging her hand on the table. I chuckled at Quinnโs discomfort. She obviously didnโt want her son knowing about her escapade. I pulled out of Alexโs grasp. โI am going to check on my father,โ I announced to the room, then turned to the kitchen maid. โI'll have breakfast in my bedroom, Sophia,โ I said and turned to walk upstairs. โPrepare yourself,โ Quinn called out. โYour engagement is in four days.โ I paused and looked back at her. โExcuse me?โ I asked, my eyes strained and narrowed. Quinn folded her hands. โYou heard me. Prepare for your engagement ceremony in four days. Bring the omega you slept with last night.โ I gaped at her. โWhat do you mean, the omega she slept with?โ Kevin asked. โHer fiancรฉe is standing right in front of her.โ He shifted his gaze from his mother to me. โWhat is going on, Eve?โ โAlex cheated on me with your mother, and I caught them in the act, so our engagement is off.โ Kevin turned to his mom with disbelief etched into his features. โYour mother is a despicable woman,โ I added. โOne who sleeps with her stepdaughterโs fiancรฉe. Thatโs how dirty and disgusting she is. Now, you must understand why I refuse to cower under her authority?โ I said, looking Quinn directly in the eye. โEvelyn Carson!โ Quinn yelled as she sprang from her chair. โShut up.โ โLet's talk about this in private,โ Alex implored. โIt can be solved.โ I curled my li-p in disgust. โBold of you to assume Iโm still interested in being your wife. You think because I have no wolf and am deemed a worthless omega that I would settle for a man who doesnโt know the line between family and se-xual relationships?โ โOh, come on now. Get rid of your pride. Nobody will want to marry someone who already slept with a man,โ Alex said. โPfft.โ I scoffed. โYou're finally showing your true colors. I wish I'd never been with you. โ I turned to Quinn. โAnd about that engagement party. Fine. Set it up. Iโll bring him home that day. Ensure you send out invitations. I'd rather be married quickly to this stranger than marry a cheat.โ I nodded toward the kitchen maid. โSophia, breakfast to my bedroom, please,โ I said, then left the room. Kevin turned to Quinn and asked, โWhat was she talking about, Mom?โ I heard Kelvin say. โShut up, and eat your breakfast,โ she said. I know she's planning to get rid of me but I would make sure she's thrown out before she can even achieve her aim. I'll prove to her that the Alpha's blood runs in my veins. Three days passed since I and Quinn had fought over the engagement ceremony. Immediately after their argument, I uploaded a profile on a dating site, expressing my need for a contract husband just for the engagement ceremony. I continuously pressed the refresh button on my computer but had no bites, and I was running out of time. The engagement ceremony was tomorrow. While I was in the bathroom, a notification bell sounded on my computer. I rushed to it to check the message. It was from an anonymous commenter and said, โI have time tomorrow. How much would I be paid? Hit me up.โ Chapter 6 The next morning, Sophia knocked on my door. โMadam Evelyn. It's morning. Please wake up.โ I turned in my bed, then rose and stretched with a smile. It was my engagement day and Quinn and Alex were in for a surprise. I was almost giddy with the prospect, especially since Iโv done my own investigation and learned that the omega waiter whoโd poisoned me five nights ago had done it under the commands of one of the โhigher upsโ. It turned out that higher up had been Quinn. I smirked in bliss as my mind went back to the message I had received from the anonymous man whoโd agreed to take part in my engagement today. We had agreed on his entrance to the engagement party and how much I would pay him for his appearance, while I figured out the best way to get rid of my adulterous stepmom and treacherous ex-fiancรฉe. Sophia pulled me from my thoughts, saying, โYour breakfast is served downstairs.โ I looked at her. โWhy downstairs? I do not want to have breakfast while seeing their faces. I made sure I made myself clear a few days back.โ I said with my eyebrows raised. โI apologize,โ said Sophia, bowing her head. โThe madam wanted you to have breakfast with the family downstairs.โ I rubbed my temple. โAll right. Iโll join them.โ Only because I didnโt want them to ruin this beautiful morning for me. โJust run my bath for me.โ Sophia nodded and headed to the bathroom. Thirty minutes later, I walked down the stairs confidently, even with the long scar running across my face.. Alex stared, looking pained, as I walked into the room. Too bad youโre not marrying me, huh, as-shole? He stabbed at his sausages, likely angry at himself for ruining his plan to inherit the Carson fortune, using me, was now thwarted badly. Quinn noticed Alexโs face and she cleared her throat โWelcome to the table, Eve,โ she said to me. I looked at her, said nothing and sat down beside my step brother. โCongratulations on your engagement party, Sis,โ said Kevin, handing me a small box. I nodded curtly and took the box from him. I opened it and saw a small bracelet. โThank you,โ I said and went back to eating. Silence permeated the breakfast table. Afterward, Alex left the room, looking like he was going to go brood. Quinn seemed excited about the prospect of marrying me off, probably figuring she could finally have Alex, Carson, and the house to herself. She was in for a serious surprise. I had plans to make their lives miserable for making a fool of me. Kevin was the only one who seemed neutral. As the preparations for the engagement party began in earnest, I left to go upstairs and battle with my hair, clothes, and makeup. A short while later, after my hair had been arranged with pins and diamond hair accessories, I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door. โCan I come in?โ I heard Kelvin ask. โYeah sure.โ I said and he walked in. His face held surprise when he saw me, then gulped and looked away. I looked extremely attractive today, so he was probably wondering if they had all looked down on me because I was always dressed plainly. โI donโt have all day, Kevin,โ I said as he continued to stand there mute. โSo spill it.โ He sighed. โI'm sorry about what my mom did to you, and I know it's shameless of me to ask, but can you please let it go? If the elders find out this party isn't an engagement ceremony for you and Alex, and it's because he cheated on you with my mom, my mom will lose her dignity and respect as a woman in our pack.โ โI have no plans to tell the elders why Alex and I arenโt getting married, and you shouldnโt be begging for forgiveness on your momโs behalf. If she needed it, she would have asked for it herself. Now, is that all you wanted? And why are you suddenly so humble and calm toward me when youโre normally so cold and arrogant?โ Kevin shrugged, then turned to the room, glancing back once before he walked out. My attendants went back to preparing me for the party. After a couple of more hours, I was ready, but filled with nerves because my arranged partner hadnโt yet arrived. Quinn texted me, โYou should come down with that omega now. The partyโs about to begin.โ I bit my fingers in fright. But then my phone pinged with a text message from my anonymous partner. โIโm here,โ it said. I let out a sigh of relief. With renewed confidence, I strutted out of my room and down to the party pavilion. I texted him to walk into the compound and go to the pavilion, then raced to meet him. When I arrived at the entrance, Quinn and Alex were already there. Only that the stranger who exited the car wasnโt a complete stranger. He approached me. โHello, my love,โ he said, then locked kiss on my li-ps. I was shocked, though my body remained rigid as my brain tried to figure out what was happening. When our li-ps separated, he said, โAre you happy to see me?โ He smiled and leaned in toward my ear. โWasnโt very nice of you to leave the other night, and without even bothering to ask my name, too. It's Kian, by the way, Kian Sylvester,โ he whispered. โHow did you find me?โ I whispered back. โCoincidence, or maybe youโd call it fate, my beautiful. But before we continue our banter, won't you introduce me to your family?โ I straightened myself. โOf course,โ I said, still trying to absorb the fact that my paid partner for the day was the man I had spent my very first night with. I turned and took in my stepmotherโs expression. The look of shock there in her face satisfied me. I smiled. Anybody could see Kian wasn't just a random omega. Even though I knew little about him, I could feel his powerful aura. I shifted my gaze from Quinn to encompass everyone there. โElders, Mother, Brother, this is Kian Sylvester, the man Iโm set to marry,โ I announced with a small smile. โWhat is the meaning of this?โ Quinn asked. โWho is this good-for-nothing man you have brought home to marry?โ Silence descended on the crowd. โDo not say another insulting word toward my woman,โ Kian said in an authoritative voice. โDo you hear me?โ He scoffed. โYou call me a nobody? Well, ask Alex here who I am.โ He turned to Alex. โWonโt you tell them, Brother?โ he asked with a smile. Wait, I don't remember Alex having a brother. Did he??? Alex folded his hands into fists. โWhat are you doing here?โ he asked through clenched teeth. โI thought that was clearโฆ Iโm here to ask for my womanโs hand in marriage.โ He smirked mischievously. โOh, Iโm sorry. Did you think I wouldnโt amount to anything after Father kicked me out?โ Alex glared at him. โGo back to wherever youโve been hiding all these years before I tear your fcking face off.โ โYou will not address our Alpha in such a manner, you scumbag.โ Kianโs aide inserted himself between Kian and Alex. He turned to face the now murmuring crowd. I stood transfixed. He was an alpha? And Alexโs brother? Oh, the moon goddess! โThis is Alpha Kian Sylvester of the Blood Moon Pack, the strongest pack on this continent. Pay your respects properly.โ Kianโs aide addressed the crowd. | Start Reading | 1 | https://facebook.com/61558999080853 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714719600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889634 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188549 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889635 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188549 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889636 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188549 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889638 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889640 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889642 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889644 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889646 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889647 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889648 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889650 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889651 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 858887796262509 | 2 | 8.0915660068031E+14 | 1715410800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750770002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251568 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438172556_1000382361510248_6179197804503582160_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wvpGBpyz1BgQ7kNvgExgZJK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCv68R5Sad9iIy6-4n3gJ5joImQS6Z_tgWWNQ7a5tVCAQ&oe=667E8825 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438144895_433133876341869_1863517058371972618_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ptqqkFZi8bEQ7kNvgFYHcZG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBeh4dfwpB55z2piD3b9AUNpGvy-IL2cwfIddM6gX3-5Q&oe=667E84DD | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. Felix and I grew up together. Our parents were best friends, and they tried to pair us up again just now. I've liked him since little, and he's always been really good to me. But now this good boy glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, all the discussion about our wedding halted, and the room turned dead silent. I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'll never marry her, so you all can just forget it!" His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. It was fine if he didn't like me, and he could have told me in private, yet he had to trample all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ My father was always mild-mannered, yet his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father was the first to react. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "Who taught you to behave like that?" The slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! My son, Are you alright?" But Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. Felix struggled to stand up and turned to leave, but I forced the humiliation down and called out, "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889654 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889656 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889658 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889659 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889662 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889663 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 1154523119004398 | 2 | 1.4377422001822E+15 | 1715842800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211289111250002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715329887 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442399618_2321306068077367_7267370041668681897_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9gD7gy5A72gQ7kNvgH66Ynx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCOGiRRlWNkYcatmzQ-LUavXhefxy40ZlyPdL0E5pEYfA&oe=667E8693 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442385369_1121751435801135_773466184479018381_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=rOyR5kMeBdYQ7kNvgFViex-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBfLnCGMC05cMuyZVG6aoayghSabyw5kp6AV29TkgJgKw&oe=667E994F | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889664 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188551 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889666 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188552 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889667 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188552 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889668 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188552 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889670 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188552 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889672 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889673 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 2115068452192199 | 1 | 7.5946080672893E+15 | 1715583600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715410800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889675 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 830890622283235 | 1 | 9.8362293662683E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 308339885700252 | 0 | Free Luma | 120213982880300197 | freelumabracelets.com | Shop Now | NONE | dco | Positive Daily Reminders | {{product.description}} | https://freelumabracelets.com/collections/positivity-collection | 1719163754 | 3.0833988570025E+14 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448767482_1155528975569232_5867700363493256865_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTEX7aQsu2UQ7kNvgE5nMpV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCcG-24YNa5JA6VsarpgxTdOvubmPqIM5oBSsbniqdMTA&oe=667E8880 | person_profile | 0 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734865_996780438264589_3482458461553062355_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FBKPnfCyd9kQ7kNvgHoUtVl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3IFwkOZPFqva948Tsl8D7erwQBTuRgFl5kl5JLHezKw&oe=667E73A6 | 0 | 3 | "Words to live by! โค๏ธ My bracelet makes me smile everyday that I wear it. It is my constant reminder as I go about my day." - Tammy W. With countless 5-star reviews you can't go wrong with any bracelet that you pick. ๐ | Free Luma | 8725 | https://facebook.com/Freeluma | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889676 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 830890622283235 | 1 | 9.8362293662683E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 308339885700252 | 0 | Free Luma | 120213982880300197 | freelumabracelets.com | Shop Now | NONE | dco | Positive Daily Reminders | {{product.description}} | https://freelumabracelets.com/collections/positivity-collection | 1719163754 | 3.0833988570025E+14 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448767482_1155528975569232_5867700363493256865_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTEX7aQsu2UQ7kNvgE5nMpV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCcG-24YNa5JA6VsarpgxTdOvubmPqIM5oBSsbniqdMTA&oe=667E8880 | person_profile | 0 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734865_996780438264589_3482458461553062355_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FBKPnfCyd9kQ7kNvgHoUtVl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3IFwkOZPFqva948Tsl8D7erwQBTuRgFl5kl5JLHezKw&oe=667E73A6 | 0 | 3 | "Words to live by! โค๏ธ My bracelet makes me smile everyday that I wear it. It is my constant reminder as I go about my day." - Tammy W. With countless 5-star reviews you can't go wrong with any bracelet that you pick. ๐ | Free Luma | 8725 | https://facebook.com/Freeluma | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889677 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 830890622283235 | 1 | 9.8362293662683E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 308339885700252 | 0 | Free Luma | 120213982880300197 | freelumabracelets.com | Shop Now | NONE | dco | Positive Daily Reminders | {{product.description}} | https://freelumabracelets.com/collections/positivity-collection | 1719163754 | 3.0833988570025E+14 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448767482_1155528975569232_5867700363493256865_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTEX7aQsu2UQ7kNvgE5nMpV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCcG-24YNa5JA6VsarpgxTdOvubmPqIM5oBSsbniqdMTA&oe=667E8880 | person_profile | 0 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734865_996780438264589_3482458461553062355_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FBKPnfCyd9kQ7kNvgHoUtVl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3IFwkOZPFqva948Tsl8D7erwQBTuRgFl5kl5JLHezKw&oe=667E73A6 | 0 | 3 | "Words to live by! โค๏ธ My bracelet makes me smile everyday that I wear it. It is my constant reminder as I go about my day." - Tammy W. With countless 5-star reviews you can't go wrong with any bracelet that you pick. ๐ | Free Luma | 8725 | https://facebook.com/Freeluma | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889678 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188553 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 830890622283235 | 1 | 9.8362293662683E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 308339885700252 | 0 | Free Luma | 120213982880300197 | freelumabracelets.com | Shop Now | NONE | dco | Positive Daily Reminders | {{product.description}} | https://freelumabracelets.com/collections/positivity-collection | 1719163754 | 3.0833988570025E+14 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448767482_1155528975569232_5867700363493256865_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTEX7aQsu2UQ7kNvgE5nMpV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCcG-24YNa5JA6VsarpgxTdOvubmPqIM5oBSsbniqdMTA&oe=667E8880 | person_profile | 0 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734865_996780438264589_3482458461553062355_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FBKPnfCyd9kQ7kNvgHoUtVl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3IFwkOZPFqva948Tsl8D7erwQBTuRgFl5kl5JLHezKw&oe=667E73A6 | 0 | 3 | "Words to live by! โค๏ธ My bracelet makes me smile everyday that I wear it. It is my constant reminder as I go about my day." - Tammy W. With countless 5-star reviews you can't go wrong with any bracelet that you pick. ๐ | Free Luma | 8725 | https://facebook.com/Freeluma | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889681 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188554 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889684 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188554 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889688 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188555 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 480124741257496 | 1 | 1.7277413576323E+15 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889692 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188556 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889690 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188556 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 490216490125879 | 1 | 7.8490504346585E+14 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213129259430237 | fb.com | Install now | NONE | image | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://fb.com/canvas_doc/1529881124574176 | 1718872132 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448636917_435841155998365_1800961673279131810_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=i1vPWhbv3tQQ7kNvgEwK6_3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAJylZFtRIgx5E99a2FlKKxdp5VJ3eTf2JVT0quVGZtiA&oe=667E93BB | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448614299_481036444310356_8741186541011198025_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Y5xZOsnbBGcQ7kNvgEP3zGu&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB-6p-J2cVStMutwPVLy1yF-Vrw-QBFfqHOBMaOYI7VoA&oe=667E78A1 | 0 | 3 | One<br /> Neah<br /> โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. <br /> The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts.<br /> โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me<br /> I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough.<br /> โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ<br /> I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. <br /> Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack.<br /> โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. <br /> We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us?<br /> He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away.<br /> Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha.<br /> Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am.<br /> Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right.<br /> They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded.<br /> โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone.<br /> โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he?<br /> โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me.<br /> I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst.<br /> โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ <br /> I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me.<br /> โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ<br /> โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week?<br /> โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ<br /> โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. <br /> โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink.<br /> I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me.<br /> โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me.<br /> Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part.<br /> He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ<br /> If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give.<br /> Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell.<br /> The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ<br /> Crap, it was him.<br /> My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn.<br /> โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room.<br /> Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist.<br /> He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ<br /> What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me.<br /> My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food.<br /> โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ<br /> I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men.<br /> โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ<br /> He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ<br /> Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants.<br /> I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me.<br /> Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door.<br /> โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ<br /> I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely.<br /> Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass.<br /> I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me.<br /> โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother.<br /> โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions.<br /> โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. <br /> No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too.<br /> โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits <br /> I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free.<br /> โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry.<br /> โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ<br /> <br /> Two<br /> Neah<br /> Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound.<br /> I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in.<br /> There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ<br /> โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day.<br /> His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ<br /> โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps<br /> โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ<br /> What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk.<br /> โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters<br /> โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ<br /> He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ<br /> Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago.<br /> โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ<br /> โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ<br /> Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere.<br /> โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ<br /> โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims<br /> โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ<br /> The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach.<br /> โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ<br /> โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth.<br /> โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head.<br /> My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me.<br /> My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ<br /> He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door.<br /> โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open.<br /> On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull..<br /> โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily.<br /> โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ<br /> โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ<br /> โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds.<br /> Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ<br /> โWe donโtโฆ.โ<br /> โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ<br /> โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ<br /> โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ<br /> I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together.<br /> โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers<br /> I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering.<br /> โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother<br /> โWe have already agreed on terms.โ<br /> โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ<br /> โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth.<br /> โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ<br /> Me? Why would he want me?<br /> As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me?<br /> โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother.<br /> โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to?<br /> He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him.<br /> โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me.<br /> Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack<br /> By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane?<br /> <br /> Three<br /> Dane<br /> โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse.<br /> โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him<br /> โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ <br /> โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses.<br /> The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks.<br /> โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ<br /> I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her.<br /> โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ<br /> He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut.<br /> They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast.<br /> My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back.<br /> I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out.<br /> โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts.<br /> โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ<br /> The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha.<br /> Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head.<br /> โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ<br /> โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance.<br /> โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ <br /> โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers.<br /> โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ<br /> โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. <br /> Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey.<br /> I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why.<br /> โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs<br /> โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ<br /> โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ<br /> โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls<br /> โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ<br /> Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. <br /> โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide<br /> โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ<br /> Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. <br /> โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ<br /> โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low<br /> โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ<br /> She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life.<br /> โSo what will it be?โ<br /> โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ<br /> โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself.<br /> Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office..<br /> โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up.<br /> She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head.<br /> โSit!โ I say it a little louder<br /> โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement<br /> โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped.<br /> โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did.<br /> The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ<br /> โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ<br /> โAnd you want my help, correct?โ<br /> The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down.<br /> โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ<br /> โYou should read the contract.โ I muse<br /> โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ<br /> โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed<br /> They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters<br /> โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches.<br /> If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of.<br /> Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ<br /> Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her.<br /> She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo.<br /> โCome.โ I instruct<br /> Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously.<br /> โIs she okay?โ Eric links me.<br /> โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ<br /> โOkay.โ Her lips barely move<br /> She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. <br /> โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child.<br /> Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap.<br /> โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ<br /> I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it.<br /> Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible.<br /> Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright.<br /> โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her.<br /> โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door.<br /> She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last.<br /> โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest.<br /> She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not<br /> โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around.<br /> We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ<br /> Her brow furrows and still she says nothing.<br /> Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ<br /> Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room<br /> โWell?โ I ask.<br /> โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers<br /> Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days.<br /> Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive?<br /> <br /> Four<br /> Dane<br /> She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins.<br /> I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress.<br /> โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?"<br /> "No."<br /> She was lying, I could feel it.<br /> She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back.<br /> Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. <br /> โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ<br /> โMark me?โ<br /> I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider.<br /> โYes, I will mark you.โ<br /> She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me.<br /> I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday.<br /> โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face..<br /> โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ<br /> โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ<br /> โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts.<br /> I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her.<br /> โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her.<br /> She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ<br /> Forget? How could she forget a wound?<br /> โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong.<br /> It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. <br /> โShow me!โ<br /> โItโs fine.โ She mumbles<br /> I was already so sick of hearing that phrase.<br /> โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ<br /> Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ<br /> โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?!<br /> She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes.<br /> โOffice,โ Aero mutters.<br /> โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind.<br /> โThis way.โ I gesture to the door.<br /> Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that.<br /> In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me.<br /> She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. <br /> โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers.<br /> โYou need to stop saying that.โ<br /> She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons.<br /> โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ<br /> It wasnโt optional.<br /> She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons.<br /> Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too.<br /> Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too.<br /> There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago.<br /> She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame.<br /> โYou need to see a doctor.โ<br /> โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ<br /> โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body<br /> She lowers her blue eyes.<br /> โCassandra?โ<br /> She still doesnโt answer me.<br /> โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ<br /> She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. <br /> โAnyone else?โ<br /> โThe pack.โ She whispers.<br /> โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls.<br /> He will have to get in line,<br /> โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ<br /> She nods.<br /> โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ<br /> She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?"<br /> <br /> Five<br /> Neah<br /> โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper<br /> He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ<br /> โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully.<br /> โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ<br /> โOh.โ<br /> โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ<br /> I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it?<br /> โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ<br /> Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought.<br /> Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet.<br /> As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom.<br /> His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. <br /> What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that.<br /> He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ<br /> I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions.<br /> Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me.<br /> โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ<br /> Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ<br /> He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold.<br /> He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ<br /> Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home.<br /> The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it.<br /> Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden.<br /> โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here.<br /> I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room.<br /> โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath.<br /> Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers.<br /> โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ<br /> He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that.<br /> โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood.<br /> The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him.<br /> She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin.<br /> I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ<br /> It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity.<br /> โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ<br /> โI have a wound.โ I whisper.<br /> โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused<br /> โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in.<br /> โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ<br /> My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped.<br /> Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ<br /> She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound.<br /> Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it.<br /> Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ<br /> โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day.<br /> Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ<br /> โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders<br /> โI donโt know.โ<br /> โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain.<br /> โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ<br /> Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth.<br /> โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket.<br /> โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound<br /> โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes<br /> โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ<br /> I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house.<br /> She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ<br /> โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term.<br /> โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ<br /> โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read.<br /> She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said.<br /> โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me.<br /> โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. <br /> โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. <br /> It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier.<br /> Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ<br /> โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating.<br /> โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ<br /> It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | INSTALL_MOBILE_APP | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889694 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188557 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889696 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188557 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889698 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188558 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889700 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188558 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 861939552623158 | 1 | 1.8722349231897E+15 | 1717225200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717138800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889702 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188559 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 989757509447482 | 56 | 1.1720555042106E+15 | 1714287600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 108401345691237 | 0 | JoyReels | 120207623405290738 | play.google.com | Watch more | NONE | video | ๐นThis series is so incredible! I can't stop watching! Next episode is amazing! | https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.joyreels.video | 1714125814 | 1.0840134569124E+14 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439653549_1492081098184092_2520230055688059346_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6_fbdJtSvsoQ7kNvgEFFSSL&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBeA7X5Ic_Tnm8YMjDLQeasiGTnpCrzHKM-ndZxevFyAg&oe=667E918F | person_profile | 0 | JoyReels | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439672237_968708498225044_5845263724250189725_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UHaLANwrNLQQ7kNvgHXUNS5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAp3G5f7CfeTGZD_N7s2IiADk35BEdQQ9zjklD_TmnzEg&oe=667E78E8 | 0 | 3 | ๐๐After humiliated by his bride-to-be on the wedding rehearsal but Adam was soon told his true identity as the heir of the richest family in the US. On the journey of returning as a CEO, taking over his familyโs business, our true heir gradually finds out his true love, who has been by his side from the very beginningโฆ | JoyReels | 2599 | https://facebook.com/JoyReels02 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1714201200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889704 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188559 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 1151488566099663 | 1 | 3.741970716041E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209611805750689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717743552 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447260728_1518945155389917_2874266976111342341_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5nC-jsGE_gMQ7kNvgFy4FOo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyvnpICgctKksERKvWu0uvqPGSCENO-UQQwNLZWhYE-A&oe=667E9AAF | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447272334_8058147917584464_4203412527007476159_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=1i9cBRkpjNsQ7kNvgE2Xm4_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCWND1jhw-dAzxBjxzLNPJ5_PGGRPl1w-JIYpE6idXEyw&oe=667E7D88 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889726 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889728 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678835 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889730 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889732 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188563 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 3652610685000724 | 1 | 1.1526254957867E+15 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210888594870646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11504&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716446512 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442485268_417302314557004_1623455597791525274_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bNd6fcjLoOEQ7kNvgGoHcfK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVF6ChRwDy-TtiAs84myWUpmcb4RmPhlAYSv7GT_23bQ&oe=667E9E36 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442480714_993193531797256_1849337189330138636_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4ntsKRGwcc8Q7kNvgEJJ82q&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAufwzP5tpNtl12x-y5J67l0PtUyX-xxxoi4pfYOpuvAw&oe=667E87BE | 0 | 3 | My sister Cassandra bullied me for years and married Alpha King Alexander, the most powerful man in our country. She had a perfect marriage and family. Mom, Dad, and Alexander all loved her. But she died in childbirth. Everything turned upside down. I was forced to take her place to solidify our packโs relationship with the royals. Although I had hope for Alexander, I knew he never wanted me. "You really are trying to replace her, aren't you?" he said quietly, his voice laced with hate. "No, I swear I'm not," His cold fingers lifted my chin, forcing my eyes to meet his. "You know, I promised your sister I would never love another woman." His words pierced through me. The pain of losing Cassandra, even after two years, was still fresh, and I knew that Alexander's heart belonged to her and always would. "And I will keep that promise to her", he added. "I always know that," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady despite the tears threatening to spill over. "I don't want to come between you and her memory." "Then tell me why you're wearing your sisterโs clothes." His words were still cold and questioning. "I'm sorry, I didn't want to do it, my mom forced me to wear this dress." I tried to explain, "Please believe me." "How could I believe someone who tried to seduce me at your sister's funeral?" The pressure from Alexander made me breathless. "No. No. I never thought of doing this. It was a misunderstanding." I shook my head desperately and argued for myself. "You're not worthy of wearing this dress." Alexander turned to leave. Painful marriage and the crime of poisoning my sister ruined my life again. I ran away with my babies and discovered my true identity, the princess of the neighbouring kingdom. โWho are you?โAlexander demanded from the masked woman in front of him โAlpha Alexander, you have the wrong person. My name is Fay," "You make me feel so familiar," He insisted, reaching for my mask to see my face. "No!" A hand stopped him โ it was Alpha Victor's Beta Allen, "Don't touch her!" He growled, grabbing Allenโs collar threateningly. "Alpha Alexander, I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood. She is my wife, Fay" Beta Allen revealed, shocking him to the core. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716447600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889736 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188564 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889735 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188564 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889738 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188565 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889740 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188566 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889742 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188567 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889744 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188567 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 426415140236661 | 6 | 1.5328359172999E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 294391023170 | 0 | Jeanna Gabellini | 6570567343729 | specials.masterpeacecoaching.com | Learn more | NONE | image | [Free Quiz] Discover Your Superpower | This Short Quiz Will Help You Attract & Retain More Clients With Less Effort And Stress Guaranteed! | https://specials.masterpeacecoaching.com/client-attraction-superpower-quiz?utm_source=Facebook+Ads+&utm_medium=%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D&utm_campaign=%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D&utm_content=%7B%7Bad.name%7D%7D | 1717723127 | 294391023170 | Jeanna Gabellini | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447264780_1157544762254293_8178009081718371653_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GSYlQQNipMgQ7kNvgHV_r73&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDAguZzwOVLhUz0b1PR-IkxSl-VeOw0kOhqn4AaxQI_hA&oe=667E9CA6 | person_profile | 0 | MASTERPEACE COACHING! | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447670824_6350953641696062_6488919148294658447_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UPMnz49wyqcQ7kNvgGAB77s&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAufu1QUaa-S9UC6uRr7v8pKGWzDeXIGs0iPcGoEldusg&oe=667E848C | 0 | 3 | Are You Failing To Leverage Your "Client-Attraction Superpower?" ๐คจ [FREE Quiz]<br /> <br /> It's not that you don't have one... it's that you're focusing too much on doing the things that DON'T come naturally to you.<br /> <br /> Of course, it's important to grow and take on new challenges. <br /> <br /> But there's a way to leverage your natural abilities and gifts so that the "growing" part feels less like a marketing mask and more like an extension of your authentic self.<br /> <br /> And here's the kicker... THIS is what clients are actually attracted to. ๐ฎ<br /> <br /> This is why clients will side with an independent "freelance" partner, instead of working with a large and "established" firm. <br /> <br /> Because the WHO YOU ARE resonates more with them than the WHAT YOU'VE DONE!<br /> <br /> Once you understand how to UPPERCASE your natural client attraction strategy... <br /> <br /> ... hopping on sales calls, creating content, speaking on stage... It all becomes second nature, because it's really YOU!<br /> <br /> So what's your Client-Attraction Superpower? <br /> <br /> Take the QUIZ now & discover how to...<br /> <br /> โ Attract More 5-Star Clients <br /> <br /> Learn how to focus on the key aspects of what you do that will capture and captivate the attention (and hearts) of your perfect clients!<br /> <br /> โ Get Instant โYeses'<br /> <br /> Break the โsalesyโ framework that 99% of business-owners fall into and learn how to share your offer without feeling like youโre โsellingโ... from now on!<br /> <br /> โ Stop Using Marketing Strategies You Hate<br /> <br /> Tailor your marketing and follow up to ditch the strategies that make you cringeโฆ and just do the stuff that feels natural!<br /> <br /> The quiz takes less than 3 minutesโฆ<br /> <br /> >> DISCOVER YOUR CLIENT- ATTRACTION SUPERPOWER HERE:<br /> <br /> <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fspecials.masterpeacecoaching.com%2Fclient-attraction-superpower-quiz&h=AT2hGUpnnHZmr-1S3cgsoZkcxZOq4qVgB4kJPBtWlTV6e_IjebsbBDbhsObyiPgmk9ctJ8UsHKPNuYh6l9kb8hQvBmamLVlzeUClmdx7VsZwjuydV9yAwxOplJgm4TFgLNQiQ-PRr2RMxXDjF65Jaw-ORoNMxg" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://specials.masterpeacecoaching.com/client-attraction-superpower-quiz</a> | Jeanna Gabellini | 7349 | https://facebook.com/JeannaGabellini | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889746 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188568 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2653490268142926 | 1 | 1.8676215569854E+15 | 1712473200 | regular_page | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 1 | 121885057680157 | 1 | Random Reading | 120210454205490779 | okmstudio.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://okmstudio.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10549&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712315649 | 1.2188505768016E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433923186_755455479693362_1037705198570906748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-LZ23jDY4-gQ7kNvgFAq1st&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBK9AyLpfq0jvWuBVAToAK15awDO1BrF7LiCgFdsMXjOQ&oe=667E9EA4 | regular_page | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434408489_730742422598410_4093505724007534351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hh9i6EGwF_AQ7kNvgEEcvLK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC4_mH5U0s95mZE5CUiJqWyzP2ggyB1gpZQDsYvuYeBcw&oe=667E83EF | 0 | 3 | "Mrs. Ford, Mr. Ford's back." "Really?" Yasmin Starr was busy with her drafts. When she heard that her husband was back, her eyes lit up. She drew the curtains before her to see a shiny car driving along the path leading to the villa. She saw a man in the car. His handsome face was visible from where she stood; his actions and carriage exuded a regal air. It really was him! Yasmin's heart started racing. Her face burned at the thought of the things they did whenever he came home. Every kiss they shared was searing and passionate. It made her shy yet nervous. Just then, the door to her room swung open. Blake Ford walked in. Yasmin smiled at him. "Mr. B!" "Come here." He loosened his tie. She walked over to him shyly. In the next second, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hard kiss. She moaned before sinking into the kiss. Then, he carried her to the bed and had his way with her. Blake looked like the celibate and gentle type, but he was no gentleman on bed. He wouldn't let Yasmin off the hook without making her cry. Yasmin shut her eyes as she savored the experience. This time, Blake was wilder than he'd ever been. He was only satiated when she begged him to stop with tears streaming down her face. He lifted the sheets and strode into the bathroom. Shortly after, there was the sound of running water. Yasmin remained in bed, lying there without an ounce of strength in her body. She and Blake had been secretly married for two years now. At first, it hadn't been a marriage of love. Her father had forced Blake to wed her. So, in the beginning, he didn't like her much. But she adored him. She'd done everything she could to chase after him and treat him well. Finally, he'd returned her feelings. Yasmin's heart pounded as she recalled how wild and enthusiastic he'd been tonight. She couldn't help feeling sweet. Would their marriage get better from now on? Once she bore him a child, they'd be a happy family of three. Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open. Blake walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He had an amazing body, but his expression seemed somewhat menacing. He hadn't even wiped the beads of water dripping from his hair as he asked brusquely, "Do you have a baby?" Blake held up a test. It had been placed on the toilet bowl, where he'd taken it. Yasmin sat up. She was a little scared of not being able to read him. "I don't know yet. I bought it this morning." "Why did you buy it?" "I've been feeling nauseous lately, and I haven't had much of an appetite. You told me to do a test if I had any symptoms." Yasmin's big eyes were filled with innocence. Blake said, "Go do the test now." "I'll wait until you're done showering." He was obviously not done yet. "Do it. Now." His expression was frosty. Yasmin didn't dare delay further. It just so happened that she needed to pee, so she did the test at the same time. A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. Blake was sitting on the touch. He looked up when he heard her come out. His eyes were like dark whirlpools as he looked at her. "How is it?" "There's only one line, Mr. B." Yasmin was rather disappointed. She didn't have a baby. It was impossible to tell whether Blake's eyes were filled with disappointment or relief. He said calmly, "Get me something to wear." "Are you still going out so late at night?" "Yeah." His voice was as cold as ever. Yasmin didn't say anything else. She went to the walk-in wardrobe. She was actually very disappointed. Deep down, she wanted to bear a child. The Ford family wanted her to have a child, as did Blake. But no matter what treatments and supplements she'd taken over the past two years, she'd still failed to conceive. Besides, she was reluctant to let Blake go. Over the two years of their marriage, her love for Blake had only grown deeper. He was always too busy for her, though. Sometimes, he would be away from home for up to half a month. Now that they'd finally been reunited, he was leaving again. ###6891225### Chapter 2 Yasmin felt a little bitter. She grabbed some dark clothes from the wardrobe and returned to the room. There, she heard Blake talking to someone on the phone. "Don't be scared. Have Alicia keep an eye on you. I'll be right there." His voice was a brand of tenderness that Yasmin had never heard before. She stopped short. Suddenly, the sweetness she'd felt earlier dissipated. She asked tentatively, "Who was that, Mr. B?" He glanced at her, his tall stature domineering. He said coldly, "No one." "Was it a woman?" "It's none of your business." He grabbed the clothes from her and put them on. Usually, he would have her put them on for him. Would every man start to be repelled by their wives once they fell in love with someone else? Yasmin's stomach started convulsing. It looked like she had a stomach problem. She felt horrible. Blake got dressed and turned to leave. Yasmin was on high alertโa woman's sixth sense was powerful. She ran to the door and said, "I'm feeling a little sick, Mr. B. Could you stay the night?" Blake turned to look at her. He was unbelievably handsome, but there was something about him that just made him seem heartless. "Have Mary call the family doctor if you're not feeling well. Also, I won't be back for some time." With that, he headed downstairs. His figure went further and further away under the warm lights. Yasmin suddenly felt dazed. Why did it feel like she'd never truly held a spot in his heart? A wave of nausea washed over her. She ran to the bathroom and vomited her dinner. This was followed by a sharp pain in her stomach. She was as pale as a sheet as she struggled to crawl to the bed. She'd just laid down when another bolt of pain shot through her. Yasmin ran to the bathroom again. This time, there was only bile. She she had food poisoning! She grabbed her phone weakly to call Mary Gould. "My stomach hurts, Mary. Take me to the hospital." Mary ran upstairs. When she saw Yasmin sprawled on the carpet, drenched in sweat, she hurriedly called the driver. They took Yasmin to the hospital. When they arrived, Mary helped her inside the clinic. The doctor gave her a painkiller before instructing her to do an ultrasound. They needed to determine whether it was acute cholecystitis or gastritis. Yasmin's stomach stopped hurting once the painkiller was administered. It lifted her spirits somewhat. Mary helped her to the ultrasound room. But there, they met someone unexpectedโBlake. "Mrs. Ford, look! It's Mr. Ford!" Mary looked happy. Yasmin looked in the direction she pointed. She saw Blake standing not too far away. A wave of delight washed over her. She was about to call out to him when she saw another woman. The woman came out of the room with a hand supporting her back. She held a report. "The doctor said the baby's fine, Blake." His cold face immediately became tender. "That's good to know. Remember to watch what you eat in the future. Now that you're to be a mother, you have to be careful about the food you consume." "Okay. I'll watch out from now on." The woman smiled gently. Yasmin was rooted to the spot with astonishment. Her gaze went from delight to disbelief. She stared at them. The woman wore a light-colored, demure dress, and she was beautiful. Her long hair was glossy, and her eyes were right. She exuded a cool yet bewitching air. ###6891226### Chapter 3 Yasmin suddenly recalled something a friend of Blake's had once said. He'd told her, "There's a woman who lives in Blake's heart. They met in Merania, and he's pined after her for years. You and her look pretty similar, actually." At the time, Yasmin had been indignant. She felt that the woman was no match for her since she was already a thing of the past. Now, her dream had been shattered. As she watched how tender Blake was toward the woman, she felt like a sharp blade had been driven right into her heart. It hurt so much that all her organs felt like they were cramping. Blake shielded the woman from the crowd as they turned to leave. Suddenly, he caught sight of Yasmin standing not too far away. Mary was with her. He frowned. The woman asked gently, "Do you know her, Blake?" "Yeah. She's my wife, Yasmin Starr," he said plainly. "Why don't you head to the car first, Giselle? I'll be right behind you." "Okay." Giselle O'Shea nodded obediently. Before she left, she turned to look at Yasmin. Their gazes met in mid-air. Giselle appraised her and smiled faintly. Yasmin's heart constricted as bitterness seeped through it. Blake walked over to her. He was tall enough to block out the light above her head. "What are you doing here?" Mary was about to answer when Yasmin asked, "Who is she?" Why was Blake at the hospital with her for a prenatal check? Did she have his child? She stopped her thoughts there, not daring to think any further. "Don't ask about things that have nothing to do with you." Blake avoided her question. Yasmin's eyes turned red. "Can't I even ask a question when you've had an affair?" "An affair? Do you even have the right to say that?" Blake's gaze was menacing. "Have you forgotten how we got married? Also, I made it clear to you when we married that I would never love you." The blood drained from Yasmin's face. She clenched her fists tightly, barely able to calm down. "So I'm nothing but a disgusting buddy to you?" "Something like that." Yasmin smiled self-deprecatingly. "I see. You were mad at my dad for tricking you, so you thought you wouldn't waste the opportunity and just get me, huh?" "Stop talking." Blake's gaze was laser-sharp. So, she couldn't even talk now? Yasmin's heart sank to the depths of hell. She refused to listen and continued, "Now that the woman you love is back, what are you going to do to me?" He pursed his lips. His silence disappointed her. Yasmin's stomach started hurting again; even the painkiller wasn't doing anything to stop it. As the pain intensified, she finally passed out. โฆ It was already daytime when Yasmin woke up. She opened her eyes with a frown to see Blake leaving the room. She had an IV drip. "Mr. B!" she called. She almost fell out of the bed. Mary caught her. "Be careful, Mrs. Ford." "Where has Mr. B gone?" "That woman called him, so he went to see her." Yasmin jolted. "Don't let this upset you too much, Mrs. Ford. Your health should be your priority," Mary said, looking sad. "After doing the ultrasound, you were diagnosed with acute gastritis arising from food poisoning. You've already gone through three IV drips, so you're really weak now." Yasmin couldn't suppress the bitterness in her heart. She had acute gastritis, but Blake had abandoned her after one phone call from Giselle. It looked like she was no match for Giselle at all. "Have something to eat, Mrs. Ford." Mary brought her a bowl of oatmeal. Yasmin shook her head. "Set it aside for now, Mary. I don't want to eat anything yet." Just then, her phone, which had been placed on the bedside table, rang. She answered it wanly. "Hello?" ###6891227### Chapter 4 "Yaz, did you know about your precious Mr. B cheating on you?" The phone call was from Yasmin's best friend, Eunice Salle. "I saw it all over the news first thing in the morning! He's gotten together with a pianist named Giselle O'Shea, and it looks like she's even carrying a baby. "The paparazzi caught them at the hospital together. Hurry and go check it out!" Yasmin's heart constricted. She checked the news. There were tweets everywhere on Twitter talking about the photos of Blake accompanying Giselle to the hospital last night. Blake was the CEO of Windmere Group and had countless assets under his name. He was the most eligible bachelor in the city. This was why his private life had always been under intense scrutiny. Now that he'd gotten caught accompanying a woman to the hospital, it immediately became a trending topic. The netizens had even managed to dig out Giselle's personal information. She was a renowned pianist in Merania. She and Blake were childhood sweethearts. They had a strong bond. After growing up, she'd gone abroad to study while Blake had waited for her for ten years. Now that Giselle was back, they could finally be together. Everyone on the Internet was going crazy over their relationship. They were all lamenting the glory of their love. In just one morning, Giselle's Twitter account had gained three million followers. The one thing Yasmin noticed was that Giselle had been in Merania. It matched up with what Blake's friend had told her before. So, she was Blake's true love. Yasmin smiled mockingly. "Did you see it, Yaz? I can't believe this nonsense is all over the Internet. I can't take itโI have to go teach these people a lesson!" Eunice gritted her teeth. Yasmin stopped her. "Don't do anything. I already know about it." "Wait, you do?" "Yeah." Eunice's voice shot up an octave. "What is wrong with you? Aren't you going to do anything about him getting involved with another woman? Shouldn't you be teaching that woman a lesson?" Yasmin sighed. "Didn't you see what those people are saying? She's Mr. B's true love. He's waited for her for a decade." "I couldn't care less whether she's his true love or a call girl he hired. She's in the wrong for getting involved with him despite knowing he's married!" "Forget it." Yasmin sounded tired. "My marriage to Mr. B has always been a one-sided thing. I'm tired now." Besides, her manners and upbringing wouldn't permit her to get physical with Giselle. In fact, if she were to cause a fuss, the whole city would know what a terrible marriage she had. She and Blake had indeed been married, so she didn't want things to turn ugly. After a moment of silence, Eunice said, "What are you going to do, then? Are you going to keep this up or get a divorce?" "A divorce is all I want now." Yasmin looked at the needle on the back of her hand. She was sick, yet he was accompanying Giselle. Her heart was now dead. "Since he doesn't care about me, I won't force things anymore." "I'll always support you, Yaz. You're so pretty. There are plenty of men who'd love to be with you. You don't have to be so hung up on a scumbag!" "Thanks for comforting me." She was grateful to have Eunice by her side when she was at her worst. After hanging up, Yasmin rested for a while. When she was finally done with her IV drip, she felt better. Her stomach didn't hurt anymore, but she was still rather weak. Mary and the driver took her home. She fell asleep again. Blake returned that night. As he took his coat off, he asked Mary, "Where is she?" "Upstairs. She's sleeping." Mary added, "Mrs. Ford was quite sad to see that you weren't around when she woke up this morning, Mr. Ford." Blake fell silent. After a pause, he went upstairs. He easily pushed the room door open. Yasmin was curled up on the bay window like a cat. Her long hair fell from the seat to the floor. It made her seem that much more skinny and petite. Why was she sleeping there when she was sick? ###6891228### Chapter 5 Blake frowned and approached Yasmin. Her eyes were shut. There was a sort of childlike quality to her face as she slept, but it didn't take away from her beauty. Her naturally pink and moist lips were puckered slightly. They were as tempting as water to a parched man in the desert. Blake's anger dissipated at this sight. He bent down to lift her into his arms. At the warmth, Yasmin subconsciously buried her head against his neck. She wanted more of it. Blake looked down at her. His gaze was too deep for others to tell what he was thinking. Then, he placed her on the bed. He was about to leave when he heard her mumble, "You're nothing, Mr. B โฆ" Blake paused. He rested a hand on her face and caressed it. She was deeply asleep but subconsciously sucked on his finger. His breathing hitched. "Yasmin?" Was she awake? She didn't respond. Instead, she turned on her side and held his hand to her cheek. She looked wholly dependent on him. Blake lowered his head and kissed her. Yasmin felt like her tongue was numb from being kissed. As she woke up blearily, the first thing she saw was a handsome face that had been zoomed in. Before she could say anything, Blake kissed her again. He slipped a hand underneath her dress. His gaze was fiery enough to set her ablaze. Yasmin's expression turned icy. She bit his tongue hard. "What the h...!" With that, a bolt of pain shot through Blake. He released her. She rolled away from him, wrapping the sheets around herself as she glared at him. "What?" He gave her an icy look. "That's my line. Did you come here to see me after your date with your mistress? Don't you find yourself dirty?" Yasmin looked furious. Blake's gaze turned frosty. "She's not a mistress. Don't spout nonsense." "How is she not a mistress when she already has your child?" Blake didn't answer her. Instead, he said, "Don't you dare hurt her." Yasmin sneered. "How could I possibly hurt her? Do I look like a monster to you? Or do you think I'm powerful enough to go against you?" "Just don't bother her." Yasmin trembled. She didn't expect him to be so protective of her. She fell silent, looking frosty. "How's your stomach?" Blake sat by the bed and broke the silence. "What does it have to do with you?" Yasmin was mad at the mention of this. She'd been languishing in the hospital room while he'd been with another woman. No wife on this earth would be able to accept something like that. She was so mad that tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision. She said bluntly, "Let's get divorced, Blake." "What did you call me?" Blake shot her an icy look. She'd always addressed him as "Mr. B". Blake was eight years older than Yasmin and exuded a natural dominance. In the past, she would be scared of him if he were to so much as glance at her, let alone give her such an icy look. But now, Yasmin didn't care anymore. She met his gaze head-on. "I called you by your name. From now on, I will only ever call you that. Also, I said, let's get divorced." The thought of a divorce had been reverberating in her mind since she'd woken up that morning to see him leave the hospital room. If he couldn't even be bothered to be by her side when she was hospitalized, what was the point of keeping him? He would only exasperate her. "What did you say?" Blake thought he'd heard her wrong. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Say that again if you dare." "I regret everything now, Blake. I don't want to be with you anymore," Yasmin enunciated, her voice steady and clear. "Let's get divorced." She'd be much better off kicking a heartless man like him to the curb as soon as possible. He was the one who said he'd never love her, anyway. Blake sneered. His gaze was harsh. "What's this trick you're trying to pull this time?" He even thought she was just playing the fool by demanding a divorce. It showed that when a man didn't love a woman, he would think she was just playing games, even if she were to throw herself off a building. ###6891229### Chapter 6 Yasmin was dead at heart, and her eyes were dull. "I'm not throwing a tantrum, Blake. I'm being serious. I've been stuck in a loveless marriage for two years, and I've had enough." Over more than 700 days, she'd gone from hopeful to despondent. She was tired of living like this. "Have you forgotten that your father was the one who sent you to my bed?" Blake's eyes darkened. "He went to such lengths to force me to marry you, yet you're now demanding a divorce. Do you even hear yourself? "Go ahead and throw whatever tantrum you want, but don't take things too far. Men hate it when women are too fussy, you know." Indeed, Yasmin's father, Stuart Starr, had sent her to Blake's bed. At the time, something had gone wrong with Stuart's company. He foresaw himself ending up behind bars and had been afraid of his enemies going after Yasmin. So, he'd orchestrated for Yasmin to end up in bed with Blake. Then, he'd informed the paparazzi and the Ford family about this, forcing Blake to marry Yasmin. Stuart had some of Windmere Group's trade secrets. He'd threatened to release them if Blake didn't protect Yasmin. And that was how Stuart had tricked Blake into marrying Yasmin. Blake had harbored a grudge against him and Yasmin for it. On their wedding night, he'd warned Yasmin, "Your father gave you to me, so you have to atone for his sins. Obey every word I say. Don't ever go against me." That year, Yasmin was 20 years old and a sophomore in college. She'd been terrified, and she'd nodded with red eyes. "I understand, Mr. B." "Don't call me that!" Blake snarled. "I'm sorry. I'll be careful from now on." Yasmin's eyes were filled with sorrow as she recalled their past. She didn't hate Stuart. She knew he'd forced Blake to marry her because he wanted to protect her. It had been two years since then. Stuart was still in prison but would be released in a few years once he'd served his full sentence. "I know you're still harboring a grudge against me and my father for forcing you into this marriage. Now, I'm setting you free," she said. She despised him for cheating on her but was still grateful that he'd kept her safe for two years. Blake looked at her icily. Then, he sneered. "That stupid studio of yours isn't making a single cent. Can you really feed yourself if we get divorced?" Yasmin and Eunice had set up their own studio. It was still early days and had yet to bring in profits. "No entrepreneur makes money when they first started. It takes time. I know I'm not earning anything yet, but I'll work hard. I've graduated and grown up, Blake. I don't need your protection anymore," Yasmin said. Blake knitted his brows tightly. "So that's what it is. You want a divorce because you don't need me for anything anymore. Do you really think reality's that sweet, Yasmin? Your family forced me to marry you when they needed me. Now that you don't need me anymore, you're demanding a divorce." "I'll admit that my father made a mistake, but haven't I been atoning for his sins for the past two years? I've obeyed you at every turn. I've never gone against you. Besides, don't you want to be free? Your mistress had a baby. Don't you want to give her and your child what they deserve?" "My matters have nothing to do with you," Blake said coldly. Yasmin fell silent. Indeed, he'd never allowed her to ask about his matters. She turned to leave the room. An ugly look crept onto Blake's face as he dragged her back and pinned her to the bed. He circled her with his arms and looked down at her sharply. Yasmin was caught off guard. "What are you doing?" "You're always talking about how much you love me, right? Look at how you have to announce it every day." There was a hint of anger in his face. "Are you really willing to watch me ride into the sunset with another woman? Doesn't it upset you?" Yasmin lowered her eyes. She said softly, "Not anymore." It did upset her, but she didn't want to love him anymore. | 0 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712300400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889748 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188568 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2653490268142926 | 1 | 1.8676215569854E+15 | 1712473200 | regular_page | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 1 | 121885057680157 | 1 | Random Reading | 120210454205490779 | okmstudio.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://okmstudio.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10549&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712315649 | 1.2188505768016E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433923186_755455479693362_1037705198570906748_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-LZ23jDY4-gQ7kNvgFAq1st&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBK9AyLpfq0jvWuBVAToAK15awDO1BrF7LiCgFdsMXjOQ&oe=667E9EA4 | regular_page | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434408489_730742422598410_4093505724007534351_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=hh9i6EGwF_AQ7kNvgEEcvLK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC4_mH5U0s95mZE5CUiJqWyzP2ggyB1gpZQDsYvuYeBcw&oe=667E83EF | 0 | 3 | "Mrs. Ford, Mr. Ford's back." "Really?" Yasmin Starr was busy with her drafts. When she heard that her husband was back, her eyes lit up. She drew the curtains before her to see a shiny car driving along the path leading to the villa. She saw a man in the car. His handsome face was visible from where she stood; his actions and carriage exuded a regal air. It really was him! Yasmin's heart started racing. Her face burned at the thought of the things they did whenever he came home. Every kiss they shared was searing and passionate. It made her shy yet nervous. Just then, the door to her room swung open. Blake Ford walked in. Yasmin smiled at him. "Mr. B!" "Come here." He loosened his tie. She walked over to him shyly. In the next second, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a hard kiss. She moaned before sinking into the kiss. Then, he carried her to the bed and had his way with her. Blake looked like the celibate and gentle type, but he was no gentleman on bed. He wouldn't let Yasmin off the hook without making her cry. Yasmin shut her eyes as she savored the experience. This time, Blake was wilder than he'd ever been. He was only satiated when she begged him to stop with tears streaming down her face. He lifted the sheets and strode into the bathroom. Shortly after, there was the sound of running water. Yasmin remained in bed, lying there without an ounce of strength in her body. She and Blake had been secretly married for two years now. At first, it hadn't been a marriage of love. Her father had forced Blake to wed her. So, in the beginning, he didn't like her much. But she adored him. She'd done everything she could to chase after him and treat him well. Finally, he'd returned her feelings. Yasmin's heart pounded as she recalled how wild and enthusiastic he'd been tonight. She couldn't help feeling sweet. Would their marriage get better from now on? Once she bore him a child, they'd be a happy family of three. Suddenly, the bathroom door swung open. Blake walked out with a towel wrapped around his waist. He had an amazing body, but his expression seemed somewhat menacing. He hadn't even wiped the beads of water dripping from his hair as he asked brusquely, "Do you have a baby?" Blake held up a test. It had been placed on the toilet bowl, where he'd taken it. Yasmin sat up. She was a little scared of not being able to read him. "I don't know yet. I bought it this morning." "Why did you buy it?" "I've been feeling nauseous lately, and I haven't had much of an appetite. You told me to do a test if I had any symptoms." Yasmin's big eyes were filled with innocence. Blake said, "Go do the test now." "I'll wait until you're done showering." He was obviously not done yet. "Do it. Now." His expression was frosty. Yasmin didn't dare delay further. It just so happened that she needed to pee, so she did the test at the same time. A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. Blake was sitting on the touch. He looked up when he heard her come out. His eyes were like dark whirlpools as he looked at her. "How is it?" "There's only one line, Mr. B." Yasmin was rather disappointed. She didn't have a baby. It was impossible to tell whether Blake's eyes were filled with disappointment or relief. He said calmly, "Get me something to wear." "Are you still going out so late at night?" "Yeah." His voice was as cold as ever. Yasmin didn't say anything else. She went to the walk-in wardrobe. She was actually very disappointed. Deep down, she wanted to bear a child. The Ford family wanted her to have a child, as did Blake. But no matter what treatments and supplements she'd taken over the past two years, she'd still failed to conceive. Besides, she was reluctant to let Blake go. Over the two years of their marriage, her love for Blake had only grown deeper. He was always too busy for her, though. Sometimes, he would be away from home for up to half a month. Now that they'd finally been reunited, he was leaving again. ###6891225### Chapter 2 Yasmin felt a little bitter. She grabbed some dark clothes from the wardrobe and returned to the room. There, she heard Blake talking to someone on the phone. "Don't be scared. Have Alicia keep an eye on you. I'll be right there." His voice was a brand of tenderness that Yasmin had never heard before. She stopped short. Suddenly, the sweetness she'd felt earlier dissipated. She asked tentatively, "Who was that, Mr. B?" He glanced at her, his tall stature domineering. He said coldly, "No one." "Was it a woman?" "It's none of your business." He grabbed the clothes from her and put them on. Usually, he would have her put them on for him. Would every man start to be repelled by their wives once they fell in love with someone else? Yasmin's stomach started convulsing. It looked like she had a stomach problem. She felt horrible. Blake got dressed and turned to leave. Yasmin was on high alertโa woman's sixth sense was powerful. She ran to the door and said, "I'm feeling a little sick, Mr. B. Could you stay the night?" Blake turned to look at her. He was unbelievably handsome, but there was something about him that just made him seem heartless. "Have Mary call the family doctor if you're not feeling well. Also, I won't be back for some time." With that, he headed downstairs. His figure went further and further away under the warm lights. Yasmin suddenly felt dazed. Why did it feel like she'd never truly held a spot in his heart? A wave of nausea washed over her. She ran to the bathroom and vomited her dinner. This was followed by a sharp pain in her stomach. She was as pale as a sheet as she struggled to crawl to the bed. She'd just laid down when another bolt of pain shot through her. Yasmin ran to the bathroom again. This time, there was only bile. She she had food poisoning! She grabbed her phone weakly to call Mary Gould. "My stomach hurts, Mary. Take me to the hospital." Mary ran upstairs. When she saw Yasmin sprawled on the carpet, drenched in sweat, she hurriedly called the driver. They took Yasmin to the hospital. When they arrived, Mary helped her inside the clinic. The doctor gave her a painkiller before instructing her to do an ultrasound. They needed to determine whether it was acute cholecystitis or gastritis. Yasmin's stomach stopped hurting once the painkiller was administered. It lifted her spirits somewhat. Mary helped her to the ultrasound room. But there, they met someone unexpectedโBlake. "Mrs. Ford, look! It's Mr. Ford!" Mary looked happy. Yasmin looked in the direction she pointed. She saw Blake standing not too far away. A wave of delight washed over her. She was about to call out to him when she saw another woman. The woman came out of the room with a hand supporting her back. She held a report. "The doctor said the baby's fine, Blake." His cold face immediately became tender. "That's good to know. Remember to watch what you eat in the future. Now that you're to be a mother, you have to be careful about the food you consume." "Okay. I'll watch out from now on." The woman smiled gently. Yasmin was rooted to the spot with astonishment. Her gaze went from delight to disbelief. She stared at them. The woman wore a light-colored, demure dress, and she was beautiful. Her long hair was glossy, and her eyes were right. She exuded a cool yet bewitching air. ###6891226### Chapter 3 Yasmin suddenly recalled something a friend of Blake's had once said. He'd told her, "There's a woman who lives in Blake's heart. They met in Merania, and he's pined after her for years. You and her look pretty similar, actually." At the time, Yasmin had been indignant. She felt that the woman was no match for her since she was already a thing of the past. Now, her dream had been shattered. As she watched how tender Blake was toward the woman, she felt like a sharp blade had been driven right into her heart. It hurt so much that all her organs felt like they were cramping. Blake shielded the woman from the crowd as they turned to leave. Suddenly, he caught sight of Yasmin standing not too far away. Mary was with her. He frowned. The woman asked gently, "Do you know her, Blake?" "Yeah. She's my wife, Yasmin Starr," he said plainly. "Why don't you head to the car first, Giselle? I'll be right behind you." "Okay." Giselle O'Shea nodded obediently. Before she left, she turned to look at Yasmin. Their gazes met in mid-air. Giselle appraised her and smiled faintly. Yasmin's heart constricted as bitterness seeped through it. Blake walked over to her. He was tall enough to block out the light above her head. "What are you doing here?" Mary was about to answer when Yasmin asked, "Who is she?" Why was Blake at the hospital with her for a prenatal check? Did she have his child? She stopped her thoughts there, not daring to think any further. "Don't ask about things that have nothing to do with you." Blake avoided her question. Yasmin's eyes turned red. "Can't I even ask a question when you've had an affair?" "An affair? Do you even have the right to say that?" Blake's gaze was menacing. "Have you forgotten how we got married? Also, I made it clear to you when we married that I would never love you." The blood drained from Yasmin's face. She clenched her fists tightly, barely able to calm down. "So I'm nothing but a disgusting buddy to you?" "Something like that." Yasmin smiled self-deprecatingly. "I see. You were mad at my dad for tricking you, so you thought you wouldn't waste the opportunity and just get me, huh?" "Stop talking." Blake's gaze was laser-sharp. So, she couldn't even talk now? Yasmin's heart sank to the depths of hell. She refused to listen and continued, "Now that the woman you love is back, what are you going to do to me?" He pursed his lips. His silence disappointed her. Yasmin's stomach started hurting again; even the painkiller wasn't doing anything to stop it. As the pain intensified, she finally passed out. โฆ It was already daytime when Yasmin woke up. She opened her eyes with a frown to see Blake leaving the room. She had an IV drip. "Mr. B!" she called. She almost fell out of the bed. Mary caught her. "Be careful, Mrs. Ford." "Where has Mr. B gone?" "That woman called him, so he went to see her." Yasmin jolted. "Don't let this upset you too much, Mrs. Ford. Your health should be your priority," Mary said, looking sad. "After doing the ultrasound, you were diagnosed with acute gastritis arising from food poisoning. You've already gone through three IV drips, so you're really weak now." Yasmin couldn't suppress the bitterness in her heart. She had acute gastritis, but Blake had abandoned her after one phone call from Giselle. It looked like she was no match for Giselle at all. "Have something to eat, Mrs. Ford." Mary brought her a bowl of oatmeal. Yasmin shook her head. "Set it aside for now, Mary. I don't want to eat anything yet." Just then, her phone, which had been placed on the bedside table, rang. She answered it wanly. "Hello?" ###6891227### Chapter 4 "Yaz, did you know about your precious Mr. B cheating on you?" The phone call was from Yasmin's best friend, Eunice Salle. "I saw it all over the news first thing in the morning! He's gotten together with a pianist named Giselle O'Shea, and it looks like she's even carrying a baby. "The paparazzi caught them at the hospital together. Hurry and go check it out!" Yasmin's heart constricted. She checked the news. There were tweets everywhere on Twitter talking about the photos of Blake accompanying Giselle to the hospital last night. Blake was the CEO of Windmere Group and had countless assets under his name. He was the most eligible bachelor in the city. This was why his private life had always been under intense scrutiny. Now that he'd gotten caught accompanying a woman to the hospital, it immediately became a trending topic. The netizens had even managed to dig out Giselle's personal information. She was a renowned pianist in Merania. She and Blake were childhood sweethearts. They had a strong bond. After growing up, she'd gone abroad to study while Blake had waited for her for ten years. Now that Giselle was back, they could finally be together. Everyone on the Internet was going crazy over their relationship. They were all lamenting the glory of their love. In just one morning, Giselle's Twitter account had gained three million followers. The one thing Yasmin noticed was that Giselle had been in Merania. It matched up with what Blake's friend had told her before. So, she was Blake's true love. Yasmin smiled mockingly. "Did you see it, Yaz? I can't believe this nonsense is all over the Internet. I can't take itโI have to go teach these people a lesson!" Eunice gritted her teeth. Yasmin stopped her. "Don't do anything. I already know about it." "Wait, you do?" "Yeah." Eunice's voice shot up an octave. "What is wrong with you? Aren't you going to do anything about him getting involved with another woman? Shouldn't you be teaching that woman a lesson?" Yasmin sighed. "Didn't you see what those people are saying? She's Mr. B's true love. He's waited for her for a decade." "I couldn't care less whether she's his true love or a call girl he hired. She's in the wrong for getting involved with him despite knowing he's married!" "Forget it." Yasmin sounded tired. "My marriage to Mr. B has always been a one-sided thing. I'm tired now." Besides, her manners and upbringing wouldn't permit her to get physical with Giselle. In fact, if she were to cause a fuss, the whole city would know what a terrible marriage she had. She and Blake had indeed been married, so she didn't want things to turn ugly. After a moment of silence, Eunice said, "What are you going to do, then? Are you going to keep this up or get a divorce?" "A divorce is all I want now." Yasmin looked at the needle on the back of her hand. She was sick, yet he was accompanying Giselle. Her heart was now dead. "Since he doesn't care about me, I won't force things anymore." "I'll always support you, Yaz. You're so pretty. There are plenty of men who'd love to be with you. You don't have to be so hung up on a scumbag!" "Thanks for comforting me." She was grateful to have Eunice by her side when she was at her worst. After hanging up, Yasmin rested for a while. When she was finally done with her IV drip, she felt better. Her stomach didn't hurt anymore, but she was still rather weak. Mary and the driver took her home. She fell asleep again. Blake returned that night. As he took his coat off, he asked Mary, "Where is she?" "Upstairs. She's sleeping." Mary added, "Mrs. Ford was quite sad to see that you weren't around when she woke up this morning, Mr. Ford." Blake fell silent. After a pause, he went upstairs. He easily pushed the room door open. Yasmin was curled up on the bay window like a cat. Her long hair fell from the seat to the floor. It made her seem that much more skinny and petite. Why was she sleeping there when she was sick? ###6891228### Chapter 5 Blake frowned and approached Yasmin. Her eyes were shut. There was a sort of childlike quality to her face as she slept, but it didn't take away from her beauty. Her naturally pink and moist lips were puckered slightly. They were as tempting as water to a parched man in the desert. Blake's anger dissipated at this sight. He bent down to lift her into his arms. At the warmth, Yasmin subconsciously buried her head against his neck. She wanted more of it. Blake looked down at her. His gaze was too deep for others to tell what he was thinking. Then, he placed her on the bed. He was about to leave when he heard her mumble, "You're nothing, Mr. B โฆ" Blake paused. He rested a hand on her face and caressed it. She was deeply asleep but subconsciously sucked on his finger. His breathing hitched. "Yasmin?" Was she awake? She didn't respond. Instead, she turned on her side and held his hand to her cheek. She looked wholly dependent on him. Blake lowered his head and kissed her. Yasmin felt like her tongue was numb from being kissed. As she woke up blearily, the first thing she saw was a handsome face that had been zoomed in. Before she could say anything, Blake kissed her again. He slipped a hand underneath her dress. His gaze was fiery enough to set her ablaze. Yasmin's expression turned icy. She bit his tongue hard. "What the h...!" With that, a bolt of pain shot through Blake. He released her. She rolled away from him, wrapping the sheets around herself as she glared at him. "What?" He gave her an icy look. "That's my line. Did you come here to see me after your date with your mistress? Don't you find yourself dirty?" Yasmin looked furious. Blake's gaze turned frosty. "She's not a mistress. Don't spout nonsense." "How is she not a mistress when she already has your child?" Blake didn't answer her. Instead, he said, "Don't you dare hurt her." Yasmin sneered. "How could I possibly hurt her? Do I look like a monster to you? Or do you think I'm powerful enough to go against you?" "Just don't bother her." Yasmin trembled. She didn't expect him to be so protective of her. She fell silent, looking frosty. "How's your stomach?" Blake sat by the bed and broke the silence. "What does it have to do with you?" Yasmin was mad at the mention of this. She'd been languishing in the hospital room while he'd been with another woman. No wife on this earth would be able to accept something like that. She was so mad that tears filled her eyes and blurred her vision. She said bluntly, "Let's get divorced, Blake." "What did you call me?" Blake shot her an icy look. She'd always addressed him as "Mr. B". Blake was eight years older than Yasmin and exuded a natural dominance. In the past, she would be scared of him if he were to so much as glance at her, let alone give her such an icy look. But now, Yasmin didn't care anymore. She met his gaze head-on. "I called you by your name. From now on, I will only ever call you that. Also, I said, let's get divorced." The thought of a divorce had been reverberating in her mind since she'd woken up that morning to see him leave the hospital room. If he couldn't even be bothered to be by her side when she was hospitalized, what was the point of keeping him? He would only exasperate her. "What did you say?" Blake thought he'd heard her wrong. He narrowed his eyes at her. "Say that again if you dare." "I regret everything now, Blake. I don't want to be with you anymore," Yasmin enunciated, her voice steady and clear. "Let's get divorced." She'd be much better off kicking a heartless man like him to the curb as soon as possible. He was the one who said he'd never love her, anyway. Blake sneered. His gaze was harsh. "What's this trick you're trying to pull this time?" He even thought she was just playing the fool by demanding a divorce. It showed that when a man didn't love a woman, he would think she was just playing games, even if she were to throw herself off a building. ###6891229### Chapter 6 Yasmin was dead at heart, and her eyes were dull. "I'm not throwing a tantrum, Blake. I'm being serious. I've been stuck in a loveless marriage for two years, and I've had enough." Over more than 700 days, she'd gone from hopeful to despondent. She was tired of living like this. "Have you forgotten that your father was the one who sent you to my bed?" Blake's eyes darkened. "He went to such lengths to force me to marry you, yet you're now demanding a divorce. Do you even hear yourself? "Go ahead and throw whatever tantrum you want, but don't take things too far. Men hate it when women are too fussy, you know." Indeed, Yasmin's father, Stuart Starr, had sent her to Blake's bed. At the time, something had gone wrong with Stuart's company. He foresaw himself ending up behind bars and had been afraid of his enemies going after Yasmin. So, he'd orchestrated for Yasmin to end up in bed with Blake. Then, he'd informed the paparazzi and the Ford family about this, forcing Blake to marry Yasmin. Stuart had some of Windmere Group's trade secrets. He'd threatened to release them if Blake didn't protect Yasmin. And that was how Stuart had tricked Blake into marrying Yasmin. Blake had harbored a grudge against him and Yasmin for it. On their wedding night, he'd warned Yasmin, "Your father gave you to me, so you have to atone for his sins. Obey every word I say. Don't ever go against me." That year, Yasmin was 20 years old and a sophomore in college. She'd been terrified, and she'd nodded with red eyes. "I understand, Mr. B." "Don't call me that!" Blake snarled. "I'm sorry. I'll be careful from now on." Yasmin's eyes were filled with sorrow as she recalled their past. She didn't hate Stuart. She knew he'd forced Blake to marry her because he wanted to protect her. It had been two years since then. Stuart was still in prison but would be released in a few years once he'd served his full sentence. "I know you're still harboring a grudge against me and my father for forcing you into this marriage. Now, I'm setting you free," she said. She despised him for cheating on her but was still grateful that he'd kept her safe for two years. Blake looked at her icily. Then, he sneered. "That stupid studio of yours isn't making a single cent. Can you really feed yourself if we get divorced?" Yasmin and Eunice had set up their own studio. It was still early days and had yet to bring in profits. "No entrepreneur makes money when they first started. It takes time. I know I'm not earning anything yet, but I'll work hard. I've graduated and grown up, Blake. I don't need your protection anymore," Yasmin said. Blake knitted his brows tightly. "So that's what it is. You want a divorce because you don't need me for anything anymore. Do you really think reality's that sweet, Yasmin? Your family forced me to marry you when they needed me. Now that you don't need me anymore, you're demanding a divorce." "I'll admit that my father made a mistake, but haven't I been atoning for his sins for the past two years? I've obeyed you at every turn. I've never gone against you. Besides, don't you want to be free? Your mistress had a baby. Don't you want to give her and your child what they deserve?" "My matters have nothing to do with you," Blake said coldly. Yasmin fell silent. Indeed, he'd never allowed her to ask about his matters. She turned to leave the room. An ugly look crept onto Blake's face as he dragged her back and pinned her to the bed. He circled her with his arms and looked down at her sharply. Yasmin was caught off guard. "What are you doing?" "You're always talking about how much you love me, right? Look at how you have to announce it every day." There was a hint of anger in his face. "Are you really willing to watch me ride into the sunset with another woman? Doesn't it upset you?" Yasmin lowered her eyes. She said softly, "Not anymore." It did upset her, but she didn't want to love him anymore. | 0 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712300400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889751 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188568 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 742150917985115 | 1 | 4.2681985325411E+14 | 1711350000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 108712015285720 | 0 | Zasusportswear | 120207896974260568 | zasuwasportswear.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Buy 3 get 1 free | Hot summer sale๐ | https://www.zasuwasportswear.com/ | 1711201404 | 1.0871201528572E+14 | Zasusportswear | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433181601_1778028822678987_3414030142818025079_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jOoy8f_oYLgQ7kNvgFxn0fY&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3pk6RA1fscHt7U1n_Y43y3gvOSmmE8Cq9oLxqWTKOAQ&oe=667EA46B | person_profile | 0 | zasuwasportswear | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434295328_1395442878010923_6627657879523415574_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-Snpg_gzvo8Q7kNvgEHwZM8&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC-1D1LHVjRyftBSk3Yz5GK1crhA-SHP_VR1uqNpOMYJg&oe=667E8F07 | 0 | 3 | Breathable and close-fitting @ZASUWA๐ | Zasusportswear | 1874 | https://facebook.com/100084678466384 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1711177200 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889754 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188569 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889756 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188570 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889758 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188571 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889759 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188571 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889761 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188572 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 424293123628574 | 2 | 1.1474942764925E+15 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1712991600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889763 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188573 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889765 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188574 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889767 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188575 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889771 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188576 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889773 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889774 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889775 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889777 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889779 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188577 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889781 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188578 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 953062849439343 | 1 | 3.3316567271384E+15 | 1714460400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797604220002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154253 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439417267_325725586923942_3802762895113409924_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XmWAfddCyMIQ7kNvgFLDmIt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCGNDSADkhDES1gngdurxAR5V0ELfkmQCtGsLDhwaToSQ&oe=667EA694 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/439598683_841653524458622_2870918214334301026_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=nLbu-m8rxDIQ7kNvgE3HYpZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDNN-mi_KtPvwAyUShcIPi9ykQEQ6LXkPtyzOCson1rRQ&oe=667E7495 | 0 | 3 | My neighbor Felix and I were childhood sweethearts, and our parents engaged me to him. I liked himโa lot. I thought he's the one I was destined to be with, and I believed he felt the same way. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted while our parents were discussing our marriage during dinner. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. Just stay away from me! Stop following me around!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, "Felix, I..." He snarled, "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Shut up! I don't need your affection. In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? I should never have liked him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889783 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188580 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889785 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188585 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889787 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188588 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889789 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188591 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889792 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188596 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 967875795058328 | 29 | 7.3814414175666E+14 | 1713510000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120209366210710002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1711524546 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/434651274_799292772248942_3890665348150112500_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=j3Y2q47oks8Q7kNvgFCXIZ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCndKS7-IIsgu-T8Hj953OdCZQSODsxnUJLbiX4NbLXPg&oe=667E840A | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/432991317_1407532749866674_1705366075688064437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mD6J3JSIDsEQ7kNvgHE5s6t&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC88YJgV-ma57MJiXX4ROThjPQVbbg5tS0ePkiiEi-rJw&oe=667E8943 | 0 | 3 | It was the fall of my senior year in high school, and the weather had gotten chilly. Felix White's uncles, Duncan White and Eugene White, had brought their families over for a visit, and my family joined them. His family members and mine added up to about 20 people, and we were all gathered at his house for a meal. With the help of drinks, the atmosphere that night had become rather lively. Since there were so many people present that day, the men were all seated at one table for drinks while the women were seated together to chat. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now. They'll be leaving us soon after they take their SATs next year." "You're right! It would be great if Lulu could continue her studies at a college nearby. She's still quite immature. I'm worried about letting her live on her own if she goes off to a college far away," Mom replied. "There's a simple solution for that! We'll just let Lulu and Felix enroll in the same college! Felix will take good care of Lulu!" Aunt Mel exclaimed. Just like that, my college plans had been settled. I was right there with them, but no one even bothered to ask for my opinion. Uncle Austin had two sons. His eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old and currently pursuing his master's degree in fine art at Lincoln University. He specialized in watercolor painting. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Uncle Austin's youngest son was Felix. Felix was one year older than me, and we grew up together. As such, I always thought that we had a good relationship with each other. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. Before that conversation, I had never actually given much thought to going to the same college as him. From a young age, I had been practicing watercolor painting. I didn't mind which college I went to, as long as it offered the degree I wanted. I was fine with letting our mothers make a decision that pleased them both. As for my feelings for him โฆ Well, if a love between two people was meant to last forever, who cared about momentary separation? I admitted that I liked him. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other. Our mothers weren't exactly quiet, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. At that time, I couldn't quite understand why he had reacted the way he did, but I didn't think too much about it. After all, he was never the type to smile easily. Indifference was his norm. "It would be good if they started their family young and focused on their careers afterward. Once they both graduate from college, they can decide on a suitable city to settle down in. I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible. That way, they can focus on their work. "But if they decide to have a child first, the two of us can move in with them and help raise our grandchild!" Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. "In that case, I should start preparing for her future wedding! Now that you've brought it up, it feels like we don't have much time left. I really need to start making plans," Mom exclaimed. My mother had always been easily excited. I had a feeling that if she wasn't in the middle of dinner, she would probably rush home to check her savings account. She would also be talking to Dad about the right car to get for me and the decor suitable for my future house. Chapter 2 My mother was a broad-minded and decisive person who took a direct approach to life. Meanwhile, Duncan had been sitting at the other table and was clearly quite drunk. He laughed out loud before he said in his booming voice, "That's right. Our kids have all grown up now. You are โฆ Harper, right? When your daughter and Melinda's son get married, don't forget to invite us to the wedding as well!" "Of course! You're Felix's uncle! You would certainly be invited!" Mom replied cheerfully. Just like that, the conversation quickly switched from what college we were attending to the ways everyone would be chipping in for our wedding. If I didn't know better, I'd have assumed I was getting married tomorrow! Everyone was now engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about the wedding. Even one of Felix's young relatives, a mere child, was excitedly declaring that he wanted to be the flower boy. I lost interest in this conversation quite quickly. I had heard it countless times before, so there was no use wasting my breath trying to stop them from talking about it. Thus, I just focused on eating while everyone else talked. Though I liked Felix, marriage felt like something too far in the future for me to consider. It was much too early to even discuss it. Besides, shouldn't we be the ones in charge of our wedding plans? I couldn't possibly let them do whatever they wanted for my big event. The final say belonged to me. I was serious about my intention to marry Felix. Our wedding had to be something that the both of us planned together. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. I was still young back then. It never crossed my mind that a relationship involved two people. By the time I understood that, it was already too late. My young, naive heart had been ripped into shreds by how Felix had acted that fateful night. I never expected him to do what he did. He used harsh, hurtful words to force me to give up on my love for him. Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He must've been very worked up since he stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily behind him before crashing onto the ground. I had been focused on eating my food. The commotion practically made me jump out of my seat. I stared at him in confusion with my mouth still full. I had never seen Felix like this. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. However, what scared me the most was the anger in his eyes and the frustration on his face. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? Or โฆ did the thought of me liking him disgust him so much that he started to hate me? It was fine if he didn't like me or didn't care about me, but he should've told me that at an appropriate time! He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? Luna's her own person, and I'm my own person too. We lead separate lives, so do you guys keep pairing us up? "I will never attend the same college as her, so you all can just forget it!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. The little boy who wanted to be the flower boy at my future wedding wailed as he buried his face in his mother's neck. "Mom, Felix is angry!" His mother carried him out to the balcony to console him. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. How I wished I would just pass out then and there. That would be better than enduring the pitiful looks everyone was shooting me. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! My father was a high school teacher. He was mild-mannered and rarely lost his temper. However, his face had flushed crimson because of Felix's harsh words, and his hands had balled into fists. If we weren't in Felix's house right now, I had a feeling that Dad would've punched Felix for hurting me. Mom also looked angry and embarrassed. Her jaw was agape, and her expression was one of utter disbelief. She probably never thought that the boy she knew since he was a baby would humiliate her daughter like this. Uncle Austin was the first to react. Seeing how awkward and humiliated I looked, he immediately shouted at Felix, "Quiet! How could you say that?" "And why can't I? To me, Luna is nothing more than a neighbor. At most, I can treat her like she's my sister. I'll never marry her, nor will I ever attend the same college as her. "I want to date and marry someone I truly love. None of you get to have a say in my love life! Besides, I'll never have feelings for Luna, so stop talking about us like that. If I ever hear anyone say anything like that again, I'll leave and never come back!" Felix yelled as the veins on his forehead throbbed. Then, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, Luna, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. Uncle Austin looked around at Mom, Dad, and me before he angrily stalked up to Felix. He grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him, scolding, "You rebellious boy! How dare you speak like this to your parents? Who taught you to behave like that?" Uncle Austin must've been very upset. The slap was loud enough to make me shudder. It was my first time seeing Uncle Austin lose his temper and also my first time seeing Felix get hit. Felix hadn't expected Uncle Austin to hit him, so he was caught off guard. The impact of Uncle Austin's slap sent him reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix let out a low hiss of pain as he stared at Uncle Austin in disbelief. I could tell from his eyes that anger was swirling in him. He slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the pristine white walls. The stench of blood permeated the air and mixed with the scent of food. It was nauseating. Aunt Mel saw that Felix was hurt and rushed forward while crying out anxiously, "Felix! Are you alright? Can you stand? Dear, call an ambulance! Can't you see that your son is hurt? Why couldn't we just talk this out? Why did you have to hit him?" "Ignore him. He needs to be taught a lesson. He shouldn't have said such things! Doesn't he have any sense of decency?" Uncle Austin barked. Chapter 4 Mom shot Dad a look, and Dad pulled out his phone to call for an ambulance. When Felix saw Dad calling for an ambulance, he pushed Aunt Mel away aggressively and forced himself onto his feet to snatch Dad's phone away. Aunt Mel lost her footing and stumbled backward before falling onto the floor. Wincing in pain, she could not seem to get back up. Felix had also used too much strength to push himself to his feet. He lost his balance and banged against the dining table. There was a resounding crash as the table crashed and all the plates fell off. The delicious meal that Aunt Mel and Mom put in a lot of effort to prepare was now ruined. The dining room was in chaos, mirroring the emotions swirling in my heart. Uncle Austin froze, as did everyone else. No one could've expected a happy family dinner to end like this. Felix, now covered in food, got back up on his feet. His right hand was clenched into a fist, and there was fresh blood dripping from his fingers. He had cut himself on something sharp when he crashed into the table. He shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable sin. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, and my vision grew blurry from my tears. Why would I be happy? What did I ever do for him to say such a thing? From the start, I hadn't even said a single word. I was not the one to blame for this mess! Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He could choose not to reciprocate my feelings, but he couldn't use my affection for him as a weapon to hurt me. He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave again, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you ask me to explain myself? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me everywhere, they wouldn't try to pair us up. Luna, I'm begging you. Let me have some freedom. I'm human, too. I have my own life! You don't have the right to decide how I live my life!" he shouted. He was calling me shameless again! Why did he have to think so little of me? I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt. We needed to talk this out rationally so I could make sense of what was happening. I wanted to tell him that I really did like him, but I never once wanted to dictate how he lived his life. I would back away if he said he didn't want me. I wasn't as shameless as he was making me out to be. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much. I won't do it again. I will always remember what you said, and I won't bother you anymore. "About everything I've done in the past, I sincerely apologize to you right now in front of both of our parents. I hope you can forgive me," I said while lowering my head apologetically. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." My thoughts of him being the one for me and all the love I carried for him were nothing more than delusions. I was so caught up in my own feelings that I failed to realize my love was unrequited. I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. If this was what he wanted, then I would grant him his wish. Despite my best efforts, my tears still streamed down my face and onto the floor. "Felix โฆ what are you doing?" Aunt Mel exclaimed in exasperation. "Lulu, get up. You've done nothing wrong. You don't need to apologize. Come, let's go home," Mom consoled me as she helped me up. Her fingers were warm as she wiped my tears away gently. "Baby, don't cry. It breaks my heart." "Harper, Lulu has done the right thing. It was clear that her actions had taken a toll on Felix, so she should apologize. Lulu, since you know that you've done something wrong, you have to make sure not to make the same mistake again in the future. Got it? "We, the Lawsons, know when to apologize and how to learn from our mistakes," Dad said as he pulled Mom and me into his embrace. From such a close proximity, I could tell that Dad's eyes were bloodshot as well. "Dad, Mom, let's help Aunt Mel clean up. The house is in a mess because of me," I said as I wiped my tears away and forced a smile on my face. "Alright, let's clean up together," Mom said as she tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. I went to the kitchen to take the trash can while Dad bent down and picked up the broken plates, tossing them into the trash can. Mom picked up a few paper towels and started cleaning the spilled food on the ground. "Gerald, you don't need to do that โฆ" Uncle Austin protested as he grabbed Dad's hand. Aunt Mel had also gotten to her feet. She was worried about Felix's wounds and wanted to check in on him, but she also couldn't bear to see us cleaning up the mess either. She hesitated for a while before taking the paper towel from Mom's hands and assured her she could handle it. Duncan's and Eugene's families also sprang into action. After all, with so many people, they could get the place cleaned up in no time. However, Mom turned their kind gestures down resolutely. She trained her eyes on the mess spilling all over the floor as she said, "We don't need any help. This mess happened because of Lulu, so we should clean it up. Don't worry. I know how clean Melinda likes her house to be, and I guarantee she will be satisfied with our work." Aunt Mel watched on as we meticulously cleaned the house. She hid her face in her hands as she sobbed, "Harper, Lulu, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. This is Felix's fault. I promise he'll apologize to you. Harper, don't be like this. It's breaking my heart." "Melinda, do you think my heart isn't broken right now? You watched Lulu grow up, so you know her well, right? So, what exactly has she done to be humiliated like she was just now? "I've always treated Felix as my own son, so how exactly has my family offended him for him to embarrass my baby like this? Melinda, put yourself in my shoes for a minute. Can you even comprehend what I'm feeling right now?" Mom said as she wiped her tears from her face. My heart broke for Mom. Aunt Mel pulled Mom into her embrace as she apologized over and over again. But I knew that, in the end, it was my fault. I should never have liked Felix. Chapter 6 Because of that, I swore that I would change. My twisted relationship with Felix started when I was still in Mom's womb. Aunt Mel and Mom were best friends, and coincidentally, they both lived right opposite each other on the same level in the same apartment block. Thus, our families were close to each other. When Mom was having me, Felix was still a toddler who waddled around in diapers. Aunt Mel had been watching Felix play under a tree and suggested, "Harper, if your child is a girl, she should just marry Felix so we could all be a happy family!" Mom had replied, "Well, that's not up to me. We'll let her decide in the future." "Felix, come here! Would you like the girl in Aunt Harper's belly to be your wife?" Aunt Mel asked. Felix had laid in Mom's lap, giggling as he mumbled the word "wife" repeatedly. He had amused Mom and Aunt Melinda so much that they decided to go ahead with the unofficial betrothal. And just like that, my marriage was settled before I was even born. By the time I understood what being a wife really meant, I had no say in the matter anymore. Besides, I wasn't opposed to being his wife either. Ever since I was a kid, I had always acted in a way I thought wives were supposed to. In everything I did, I prioritized Felix's needs first. Even if it was a snack, I would take a bite before keeping the rest for him. When he ate it, albeit unwillingly, I was ecstatic. When we got older, I would hold on to both of our bags as he fought with the other students behind the school. I would cheer him on, risking the possibility of getting into trouble myself. Then, I would spend all my money to buy the medication for his wounds. I would cheer him on when he was playing sports, yet all I received in return was a distasteful glare. I put him on a pedestal. I cared for him, accompanied him, and loved him. Since I liked him so much and treated him so well, I had thought he would like me as well. It was only after that outburst that night that I realized I was nothing more than a clingy neighbor he couldn't seem to get rid of. He was already sick of me. That explained why he always frowned when he saw me. He never smiled at me, and the way he looked at me was also frosty. Right now, I was back at home with Mom and Dad. Having finished cleaning up the Whites' kitchen, we were now slumped on the couch. "Lulu, about today โฆ" Mom started, but she couldn't seem to say anything, so she just pulled me into her arms as she cried. Mom probably never thought that her beloved daughter would be humiliated like that. She was a loving mother to me, so I knew she felt as bad as I did because of what happened today. Mom and Aunt Mel were close friends who had coincidentally bought apartment units opposite of each other. They lived there for the next 20 years or so. As such, it could be said that Aunt Mel and Mom were as close as sisters. Now that such a mess had happened, my relationship with Felix wasn't the only one at stake. Mom and Aunt Mel's relationship was endangered too. Mom cared deeply about Aunt Mel, and I couldn't bear to see her get hurt. I might be young, but I also understood that feelings couldn't be forced. I got my personality from Mom. I was loud and straightforward but had a very strong sense of pride. Once I had my mind set on something, there was no changing it. When I liked someone, I liked them wholeheartedly and selflessly. But if I didn't, I would let them know and not lead them on. Now that something like this had happened, I told myself I would completely cut Felix out of my life. However, it would take a while and would definitely hurt as well. Chapter 7 I forced a smile on my face as I whined, "Mom, it's alright. I won't think too much about it! I also won't do anything silly in the future, so don't cry!" Mom studied my face worriedly, trying to gauge whether or not I was faking my smile. I couldn't look her in the eyes, so I could only excuse myself to get a glass of water. Mom knew me better than anyone else, and I was sure she could see right through me. As expected, Mom let out a deep sigh before she said, "Lulu, study well. In the future, you can find someone better โฆ Well, you're such a good girl, I know you'll find the best man in the world. It's Felix's loss for not liking you. He will regret it." I nodded as I held the cup tightly in my hands. As I drank, I could feel my sadness surging from within. I had liked him for 18 years, so letting go was easier said than done. I went to bed early that night. But despite my drowsiness, I could not seem to fall asleep. By the time I was about to fall asleep, I heard the Whites arguing. The walls in the building were quite soundproof, so I could only vaguely hear Aunt Mel's sobs, Uncle Austin's growls, and Felix's furious retorts. I couldn't hear what exactly they had been arguing about. All I knew was that they argued late into the night until I finally fell asleep. Mom and Dad could probably also hear them arguing but did nothing. After all, this was their family matter. None of us had a say in it at all. I woke up in the middle of the night to use the washroom. That was when I saw that Mom and Dad's room door was slightly ajar. Because of that, I could hear Mom sobbing and Dad consoling her gently. "How dare he scold Lulu in front of so many people? I really regret treating that little traitor so well in the past! How dare he claim he could never love Lulu! He even called her shameless in front of everyone! "It's almost as if he thinks Lulu has no other options! My daughter deserves only the best! How could he say those things? Oh, my poor baby! Watching her get humiliated broke my heart! Why does she have to be humiliated by him? What's so great about him?" Mom sobbed. "Hush, now. Don't let Lulu hear you. I think it's good that Felix's making things clear now. To be honest, I can tell that Luna likes him a lot. If he had chosen to remain silent, Luna would've never gotten over him," Dad reasoned. "You're right. Lulu can finally move on now. When she goes to university, she will meet many different people. By then, even if Felix's on his knees crying and begging to be with Lulu, we won't accept him! "By the way, how could Melinda and Austin not educate their own son well? I'm genuinely upset at them because of this. I will never forgive them!" Mom exclaimed resolutely. Dad replied softly, "Don't say that. It's not their fault. We all know that Felix has always been stubborn, so Mel and Austin couldn't have possibly done anything. We both know how well Mel treats Lulu, too. We can't just let something like this affect our relationship with them." "But it's not fair! They had no right to humiliate my daughter! She's my baby! I've never even scolded her! This is all my fault! I should never have agreed to Melinda's ridiculous pact back then!" "Times are different now, so let's just treat that pact as a joke and never bring it up again. As for what will happen next, I know that Lulu has a plan on how to handle it," Dad said. "I don't think I can do it. I'm also worried that Lulu would be traumatized by today's event. Dear, why don't we move out?" Mom suggested. | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713337200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889793 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889795 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889797 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889799 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889800 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188597 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2179453155724897 | 2 | 1.1066064072403E+15 | 1714546800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601410002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714154249 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440388221_1616195205866313_1078239059218517359_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=JCFJX0YRkiQQ7kNvgGGjS12&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAyGGAC4a0AHfvmaWwMCEf2RyoOiyuHxUhvMAbuzQCM9w&oe=667E9817 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440389278_984007199789604_2167825168245054538_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YowHsfVkjLYQ7kNvgHTgE2o&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCotn0F22qf4kGL6hTTuxRGbXBhyUd3sXGpny74ky9VGA&oe=667E9075 | 0 | 3 | I once thought that I would be Felix's future wife. But I turned out to be his sister-in-law. I thought his brother was a stoic, but after we were together, I found he was so clingy. I ran and he chased me, I was hungry and he fed me, I was cold and he hugged me... I said to him, "Colin, can you stay away from me? It's so hot." He held me in his arms and smiled, "Baby, be good, give me another kiss."... Chapter 1 It was a family dinner with our neighbors, the Whites. Everyone was chatting excitedly, and it was an extremely joyous day. Somehow, the conversation had shifted to talk about me and Felix. This happened every single time our families gathered together. It was quite awkward at first, but it happened so often that I had gotten used to it. It didn't faze me anymore. They could say whatever they liked. It wasn't as if I could do anything about it. Melinda Priceton was Felix's mother, and I called her Aunt Mel. Aunt Mel had been peeling a shrimp as she said, "Time really does fly. The children are all grown up now." Aunt Mel had two sons. Her eldest son, Colin White, was 24 years old. Colin rarely came home. All along, I treated him like an older brother. Her youngest son was Felix, who was one year older than me, and we grew up together. I liked himโa lot. I liked him so much that during the nights when my mind was consumed by the thought of him, I swore that I would marry him. I liked him so much that I thought he would be the one for me for the rest of my life. "Once they both graduate from college, I'll help pay for their marital home so that they can get married as soon as possible." Aunt Mel said to Mom excitedly. "Aunt Mel โฆ what are you saying โฆ" I protested. After all, I was only 18 years old. Hearing our mothers talk about us having a child together made me so embarrassed that I wanted to hide myself. Aunt Mel placed the shrimp that she had just peeled onto my plate and lightly patted my cheek. "What's there to be embarrassed about? It'll happen soon enough!" she cooed. I was sitting next to Aunt Mel while Felix sat behind me at the men's table. Felix and I had our backs to each other, so he could hear everything clearly. After sneaking a glance at his expression, I could tell he looked displeased. Chapter 2 Our mothers were still discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He stood up so aggressively that his chair skidded noisily before crashing onto the ground. He glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. My jaw also dropped in disbelief, and the half-eaten shrimp fell onto the floor. In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. What did I do? Why did Felix have to humiliate me in front of everyone? All I did was like him. I only wanted to be with him. Was that a crime? I was not shameless. I just liked him. Was this his way of making me give up? If it was, then he was heartless! Chapter 3 Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I will never marry her!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mine โฆ Felix was heartless! Suddenly, he turned to me and snarled, "And you, stop following me around! You're annoying and suffocating." I was genuinely heartbroken. What gave him the right to treat me like this? I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! He should know that I was a human like him. I had feelings, too. Just like him, I felt pain as well. Felix turned to leave, but I called out, "Felix, what do you mean by that? Explain yourself." "Explain myself? How dare you? If it weren't for you shamelessly following me, they wouldn't pair us up!" he shouted. I tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. Your affection was nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. He looked at me with a mix of hatred and disgust. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. My eyes were also filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! Chapter 5 I forced the humiliation down as I swore, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix!" I swore that I would let him know he didn't deserve me at all! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714374000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889805 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188598 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 305392575838829 | 4 | 1.3523364125193E+15 | 1716102000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120211473983910747 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10926&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715918677 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442477258_907723381125422_5055201934113902389_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DIRQeUDxw6sQ7kNvgFDKmrN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBrZH58Pm_UBVY9g7lQ1OBUYdpf4NNoN0xHPk-SGRpeOw&oe=667E7B38 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442496116_1606871263445710_5634148219212488631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4BGTBDNyz1QQ7kNvgFtFIEB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPJ7OOwhF5P02UamA2lLjhDcP38NxAwSg0hLDkIJsSJQ&oe=667E844A | 0 | 3 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office until now. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that theyโre finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from the miscarriage lingered, even though it had been a long time since that day. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijahโs world โ his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijahโs ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized Iโd dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And thatโs when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijahโs ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. โYou remember Serena, right? She works here now.โ I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. Theyโre just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldnโt cheat on me, would he? All this time, Iโd remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. โSo why are you here?โ Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. โYour mom asked me to deliver this,โ I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didnโt. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that heโd never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. โSophia, you look shaken up. Didnโt you know Elijah hired me to work here?โ Her voice dripped with sarcasm. โApparently, we make a great team. Funny, I donโt recall seeing you here before.โ She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, โOh, right, you donโt know anything about business. You might just mess things up.โ โI take care of our home,โ I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldnโt even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, โNext time, Sophia, just contact me and Iโll have my assistant come over.โ "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijahโs secretary came in. โAlice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,โ he instructed. โJust black for Serena. No sugar.โ Serenaโs eyes lit up. โHey, you remembered!โ she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. โOf course.โ I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldnโt help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. โJoin us, Sophia,โ Serena invited with a devilish grin. โJust like how we used to hang out together in college.โ I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. โI have to go,โ I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. โIโll see you at home.โ Elijahโs expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after my miscarriage. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. Youโre the one who keeps hoping heโll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband's mom Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldnโt seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. Iโm back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained โ the papers Iโd been reviewing the night before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 Sophiaโs POV My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morganaโs voice outside. โSophia!โ she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. Thatโs when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full with disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. โElijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,โ she said with a scoff. โYou canโt even be relied on for such a simple task.โ Her words cut deep. โWhen you first came to our house carrying a baby, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,โ she continued. โThen you had a miscarriage and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, โMy son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.โ The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I donโt deserve this, I thought sourly. Itโs time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers Iโd hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. Iโve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Iโd always seemed invisible to them. Iโve been obedient, helpful, and hardworkingโฆ But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iโm nothing to him. He doesnโt love me and he never learned to. Thatโs the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or Iโll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadnโt realized Iโd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasnโt, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. โHey, playing hard to get, arenโt you?โ he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnโt have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. โWhen did Serena start working at your company?โ I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnโt stop what he was doing. โNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.โ He traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. โSerena is such a talented addition to our team,โ he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn't believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. โYou know,โ he said, oblivious to my disappointment, โshe's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.โ Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeโa kind of infatuationโthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He's probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn't want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. โWhatโs wrong with you?โ he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didnโt answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. โYouโve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought youโd snap out of it, but youโve only gotten worse. Itโs depressing to even see you.โ I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldnโt even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. โMaybe itโs because of the miscarriageโฆโ he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, โWhy donโt we just make another baby?โ I couldnโt believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didnโt understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury Iโve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesnโt get it. Or maybe he just doesnโt care. I was totally pissed off. And thatโs when I blurted it out. โI want to divorce you.โ CHAPTER 3 Sophiaโs POV I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another โ strangers whoโd been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. โI want a divorce,โ I repeated, keeping my voice steady. โIโm serious.โ Slowly he nodded. โYes, sure,โ he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. Iโm going to be free. And yet somehow, I didnโt feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth โ he never loved me at all. Heโs not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. Itโs time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. โWe should sign this,โ I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. โElijah, please,โ I whispered, making sure my voice wouldnโt break. โLet's end this.โ His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didnโt sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serenaโs name, making my heart tighten. I canโt believe this womanโs timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didnโt want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. โWhy donโt you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.โ He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings โ relief, frustration, anger, sadness. โIโm finally free,โ I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, โThe morningโs almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.โ With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. โSorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.โ Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesnโt matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. โYou know what? It's actually quite nice,โ she said, her tone almost mocking. โElijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!โ Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. Iโm done here. Iโm done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after the miscarriage, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. โLuckily I hadnโt sold it,โ I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: Bad guy Elijah! You guys just got divorced, and now heโs out partying with this whore already and flaunting her like heโs never done with you?! CHAPTER 4 Sophiaโs POV โAaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!โ Kayla hissed. โIf I had known heโd treat you like that, I wouldnโt have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldnโt have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!โ Being the daughter of Raven Mediaโs renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. โYou should have seen them at the party last night!โ she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. โThey didnโt even care that I was there! They were justโฆ Aaahhh! I really couldnโt take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!โ โOh, wow,โ I uttered in disbelief. โBut itโs over now, Kayla. Iโm doing my best to move on.โ Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. โIโm always here for you, Sophia. You know that.โ โThanks so much. Iโm really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,โ I responded with a fluttering heart. โWell, youโve always had my back even in high school. So now itโs my turn to return the favor.โ Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. Weโd hit it off at once, and the rest was history. โAnyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesnโt deserve you, Sophia,โ she went on. โSo what are you planning now?โ โWell, Iโve been giving it some thoughtโฆโ I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. โA few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in Franceโโ โYou did not!โ she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. โThis will surely be your big break!โ I laughed. โI havenโt been accepted yet, you know.โ โOh, but you will be!โ Kaylaโs enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijahโs name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kaylaโs eyes narrowed when she saw it too. โGo ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.โ As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijahโs sharp tone of voice on the other end. โYou filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!โ โWait, what do you mean?โ โYou know Iโm busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!โ Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. โIโll talk to Troy.โ โGood. Make sure he doesnโt come back again ever.โ Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldnโt speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. โSorry I have to go now, Kayla,โ I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved after Tom Bennett, my adoptive father, died. Heโd left me the original house where heโd taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. Theyโd bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. โWhat did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!โ Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. โIt was never going to work out,โ I said, trying to maintain my composure. โJust please stop bothering him. Weโve cut our ties. You canโt ask for more from him anymore.โ โOh, man!โ Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. โDid you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!โ Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. โWhen I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. Iโm guessing thereโs a third party involved! People who donโt know better would think that woman is his wife!โ I could feel my heart rate increasing. In my head, I could picture Elijah and Serena sitting very closely in the office. โSheโs the reason for your breakup, isnโt she?โ Troy said, looking smug. โI knew it! I never trusted that guy from the very beginning. Heโs probably been hooking up with different women since you got married!โ I wanted to make him shut up, but I just stood there, wanting to burst into tears. โUnfaithful jerk,โ Troy added, shaking his head in disbelief. CHAPTER 5 Sophiaโs POV My heart felt like it would explode any time now. โIt doesnโt matter,โ I eventually said to Troy. โItโs none of my business now. I donโt care what he does with that woman or with whomever.โ Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, โWeโre definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!โ โButโฆโ Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. โElijah and I are over. Besides, Iโll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijahโs wealth, then now you wonโt have any more need for me, right?โ They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. โAll thing that you swindled out of my ex-husbandโs pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,โ I went on in a steady voice. โWe donโt have to see or talk to each other ever again.โ On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this dramaโs taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadnโt fully recovered since the miscarriage. โCould you please take me to the hospital?โ I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. โAre you okay? You look like you're about to faint,โ he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. โOh, wait! Itโs you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?โ I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. โUh, Daniel?โ I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. โYes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.โ I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. โHow are you feeling now?โ Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. โA little better, but still kinda dizzy,โ I answered honestly. โThanks for the assistance, but itโs okay if you have somewhere to be. Youโve already done too much for me.โ โOh, itโs okay,โ he said with a smile. โUnless you donโt want me here.โ โItโs nothing like that, of course!โ I quickly replied. โThanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while Iโm here.โ โWell, Iโm all ears. People say Iโm a good listener.โ I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, โI donโt really know you, Danielโฆโ โYou know my name. Thatโs a start.โ His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. โI rememberโฆ Daniel Pierceโฆโ I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. โHigh school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.โ He laughed. โYouโve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too โ the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.โ I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. โYouโre joking!โ โNo, itโs trueโฆ Really! Iโm sure youโve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?โ He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. โGood-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.โ โOh.โ His expression changed immediately. โIโm sorry to hear that.โ โYou know, it's been a rough few months,โ I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. โI'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.โ Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. โAnd then there's the miscarriage I had... It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?โ He nodded in understanding. โIโm so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. Iโm sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?โ โYeah, starting anew in a foreign land,โ I answered, thinking about my application in France. โHmmโฆ sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. โIt takes courage to make such a big change.โ I smiled weakly. โActually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.โ Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. โReally? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Parisโฆโ My jaw dropped. โWhat? Iโm planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!โ He looked at me with astonishment. โWhat are the odds, huh? Looks like weโll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.โ I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. โThatโs reallyโฆ something else.โ โSurely youโll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?โ โThe Latin Quarter, of course. Iโm looking at an apartment there, since itโs where most students live.โ Daniel chuckled. โAnd it looks like weโll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.โ He gave me a lopsided grin. โWho knows? Maybe weโre destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Letโs fly together. I mean, if thatโs alright with you?โ His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. โThank you, Danielโฆโ Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. โMiss Sophia Bennett?โ she informed me. โYour test results are here.โ CHAPTER 6 Sophiaโs POV Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. โWell, Sophia,โ he began, his tone measured, โthe results are in. Congratulations to you both.โ I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. โYouโre going to be parents. Congratulations!โ the doctor added. Iโmโฆ pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. โOther than that, youโre perfectly healthy, Sophia,โ the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didnโt know what to say either. โLet me drive you home, Sophia,โ he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and Iโm supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it wonโt have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I donโt have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. Iโm so sorry, baby. Itโs just all too sudden. But I know that Iโm going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrivedโI had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a weekโs time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. โCall me when you get there!โ she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. โEverything will be okay,โ he reassured me. โI'm here. We'll do this together.โ His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, Youโre my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed pastโthe Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was itโthe start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. โLooks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,โ he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. โJust remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.โ I rolled my eyes. โI'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.โ He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. โI'm just saying, youโll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!โ I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. โOh, shut up.โ We both laughed. He added, โYou need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.โ โOh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?โ Daniel grinned. โHey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.โ I playfully nudged him. โI think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.โ He appeared pleased with that statement. โFair enough,โ he answered with a teasing smile. โBut you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.โ I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. โCome on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.โ As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. โHello.โ I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. โWho the hell is this? Where's Sophia?โ a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. "Hello?" I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allow to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715929200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889803 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188598 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 305392575838829 | 4 | 1.3523364125193E+15 | 1716102000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120211473983910747 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10926&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715918677 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442477258_907723381125422_5055201934113902389_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DIRQeUDxw6sQ7kNvgFDKmrN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBrZH58Pm_UBVY9g7lQ1OBUYdpf4NNoN0xHPk-SGRpeOw&oe=667E7B38 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442496116_1606871263445710_5634148219212488631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4BGTBDNyz1QQ7kNvgFtFIEB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPJ7OOwhF5P02UamA2lLjhDcP38NxAwSg0hLDkIJsSJQ&oe=667E844A | 0 | 3 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office until now. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that theyโre finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from the miscarriage lingered, even though it had been a long time since that day. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijahโs world โ his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijahโs ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized Iโd dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And thatโs when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijahโs ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. โYou remember Serena, right? She works here now.โ I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. Theyโre just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldnโt cheat on me, would he? All this time, Iโd remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. โSo why are you here?โ Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. โYour mom asked me to deliver this,โ I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didnโt. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that heโd never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. โSophia, you look shaken up. Didnโt you know Elijah hired me to work here?โ Her voice dripped with sarcasm. โApparently, we make a great team. Funny, I donโt recall seeing you here before.โ She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, โOh, right, you donโt know anything about business. You might just mess things up.โ โI take care of our home,โ I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldnโt even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, โNext time, Sophia, just contact me and Iโll have my assistant come over.โ "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijahโs secretary came in. โAlice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,โ he instructed. โJust black for Serena. No sugar.โ Serenaโs eyes lit up. โHey, you remembered!โ she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. โOf course.โ I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldnโt help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. โJoin us, Sophia,โ Serena invited with a devilish grin. โJust like how we used to hang out together in college.โ I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. โI have to go,โ I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. โIโll see you at home.โ Elijahโs expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after my miscarriage. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. Youโre the one who keeps hoping heโll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband's mom Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldnโt seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. Iโm back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained โ the papers Iโd been reviewing the night before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 Sophiaโs POV My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morganaโs voice outside. โSophia!โ she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. Thatโs when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full with disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. โElijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,โ she said with a scoff. โYou canโt even be relied on for such a simple task.โ Her words cut deep. โWhen you first came to our house carrying a baby, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,โ she continued. โThen you had a miscarriage and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, โMy son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.โ The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I donโt deserve this, I thought sourly. Itโs time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers Iโd hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. Iโve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Iโd always seemed invisible to them. Iโve been obedient, helpful, and hardworkingโฆ But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iโm nothing to him. He doesnโt love me and he never learned to. Thatโs the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or Iโll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadnโt realized Iโd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasnโt, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. โHey, playing hard to get, arenโt you?โ he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnโt have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. โWhen did Serena start working at your company?โ I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnโt stop what he was doing. โNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.โ He traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. โSerena is such a talented addition to our team,โ he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn't believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. โYou know,โ he said, oblivious to my disappointment, โshe's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.โ Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeโa kind of infatuationโthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He's probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn't want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. โWhatโs wrong with you?โ he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didnโt answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. โYouโve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought youโd snap out of it, but youโve only gotten worse. Itโs depressing to even see you.โ I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldnโt even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. โMaybe itโs because of the miscarriageโฆโ he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, โWhy donโt we just make another baby?โ I couldnโt believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didnโt understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury Iโve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesnโt get it. Or maybe he just doesnโt care. I was totally pissed off. And thatโs when I blurted it out. โI want to divorce you.โ CHAPTER 3 Sophiaโs POV I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another โ strangers whoโd been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. โI want a divorce,โ I repeated, keeping my voice steady. โIโm serious.โ Slowly he nodded. โYes, sure,โ he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. Iโm going to be free. And yet somehow, I didnโt feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth โ he never loved me at all. Heโs not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. Itโs time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. โWe should sign this,โ I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. โElijah, please,โ I whispered, making sure my voice wouldnโt break. โLet's end this.โ His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didnโt sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serenaโs name, making my heart tighten. I canโt believe this womanโs timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didnโt want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. โWhy donโt you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.โ He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings โ relief, frustration, anger, sadness. โIโm finally free,โ I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, โThe morningโs almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.โ With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. โSorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.โ Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesnโt matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. โYou know what? It's actually quite nice,โ she said, her tone almost mocking. โElijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!โ Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. Iโm done here. Iโm done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after the miscarriage, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. โLuckily I hadnโt sold it,โ I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: Bad guy Elijah! You guys just got divorced, and now heโs out partying with this whore already and flaunting her like heโs never done with you?! CHAPTER 4 Sophiaโs POV โAaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!โ Kayla hissed. โIf I had known heโd treat you like that, I wouldnโt have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldnโt have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!โ Being the daughter of Raven Mediaโs renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. โYou should have seen them at the party last night!โ she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. โThey didnโt even care that I was there! They were justโฆ Aaahhh! I really couldnโt take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!โ โOh, wow,โ I uttered in disbelief. โBut itโs over now, Kayla. Iโm doing my best to move on.โ Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. โIโm always here for you, Sophia. You know that.โ โThanks so much. Iโm really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,โ I responded with a fluttering heart. โWell, youโve always had my back even in high school. So now itโs my turn to return the favor.โ Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. Weโd hit it off at once, and the rest was history. โAnyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesnโt deserve you, Sophia,โ she went on. โSo what are you planning now?โ โWell, Iโve been giving it some thoughtโฆโ I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. โA few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in Franceโโ โYou did not!โ she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. โThis will surely be your big break!โ I laughed. โI havenโt been accepted yet, you know.โ โOh, but you will be!โ Kaylaโs enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijahโs name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kaylaโs eyes narrowed when she saw it too. โGo ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.โ As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijahโs sharp tone of voice on the other end. โYou filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!โ โWait, what do you mean?โ โYou know Iโm busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!โ Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. โIโll talk to Troy.โ โGood. Make sure he doesnโt come back again ever.โ Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldnโt speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. โSorry I have to go now, Kayla,โ I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved after Tom Bennett, my adoptive father, died. Heโd left me the original house where heโd taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. Theyโd bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. โWhat did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!โ Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. โIt was never going to work out,โ I said, trying to maintain my composure. โJust please stop bothering him. Weโve cut our ties. You canโt ask for more from him anymore.โ โOh, man!โ Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. โDid you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!โ Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. โWhen I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. Iโm guessing thereโs a third party involved! People who donโt know better would think that woman is his wife!โ I could feel my heart rate increasing. In my head, I could picture Elijah and Serena sitting very closely in the office. โSheโs the reason for your breakup, isnโt she?โ Troy said, looking smug. โI knew it! I never trusted that guy from the very beginning. Heโs probably been hooking up with different women since you got married!โ I wanted to make him shut up, but I just stood there, wanting to burst into tears. โUnfaithful jerk,โ Troy added, shaking his head in disbelief. CHAPTER 5 Sophiaโs POV My heart felt like it would explode any time now. โIt doesnโt matter,โ I eventually said to Troy. โItโs none of my business now. I donโt care what he does with that woman or with whomever.โ Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, โWeโre definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!โ โButโฆโ Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. โElijah and I are over. Besides, Iโll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijahโs wealth, then now you wonโt have any more need for me, right?โ They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. โAll thing that you swindled out of my ex-husbandโs pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,โ I went on in a steady voice. โWe donโt have to see or talk to each other ever again.โ On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this dramaโs taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadnโt fully recovered since the miscarriage. โCould you please take me to the hospital?โ I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. โAre you okay? You look like you're about to faint,โ he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. โOh, wait! Itโs you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?โ I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. โUh, Daniel?โ I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. โYes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.โ I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. โHow are you feeling now?โ Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. โA little better, but still kinda dizzy,โ I answered honestly. โThanks for the assistance, but itโs okay if you have somewhere to be. Youโve already done too much for me.โ โOh, itโs okay,โ he said with a smile. โUnless you donโt want me here.โ โItโs nothing like that, of course!โ I quickly replied. โThanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while Iโm here.โ โWell, Iโm all ears. People say Iโm a good listener.โ I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, โI donโt really know you, Danielโฆโ โYou know my name. Thatโs a start.โ His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. โI rememberโฆ Daniel Pierceโฆโ I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. โHigh school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.โ He laughed. โYouโve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too โ the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.โ I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. โYouโre joking!โ โNo, itโs trueโฆ Really! Iโm sure youโve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?โ He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. โGood-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.โ โOh.โ His expression changed immediately. โIโm sorry to hear that.โ โYou know, it's been a rough few months,โ I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. โI'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.โ Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. โAnd then there's the miscarriage I had... It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?โ He nodded in understanding. โIโm so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. Iโm sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?โ โYeah, starting anew in a foreign land,โ I answered, thinking about my application in France. โHmmโฆ sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. โIt takes courage to make such a big change.โ I smiled weakly. โActually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.โ Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. โReally? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Parisโฆโ My jaw dropped. โWhat? Iโm planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!โ He looked at me with astonishment. โWhat are the odds, huh? Looks like weโll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.โ I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. โThatโs reallyโฆ something else.โ โSurely youโll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?โ โThe Latin Quarter, of course. Iโm looking at an apartment there, since itโs where most students live.โ Daniel chuckled. โAnd it looks like weโll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.โ He gave me a lopsided grin. โWho knows? Maybe weโre destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Letโs fly together. I mean, if thatโs alright with you?โ His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. โThank you, Danielโฆโ Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. โMiss Sophia Bennett?โ she informed me. โYour test results are here.โ CHAPTER 6 Sophiaโs POV Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. โWell, Sophia,โ he began, his tone measured, โthe results are in. Congratulations to you both.โ I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. โYouโre going to be parents. Congratulations!โ the doctor added. Iโmโฆ pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. โOther than that, youโre perfectly healthy, Sophia,โ the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didnโt know what to say either. โLet me drive you home, Sophia,โ he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and Iโm supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it wonโt have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I donโt have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. Iโm so sorry, baby. Itโs just all too sudden. But I know that Iโm going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrivedโI had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a weekโs time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. โCall me when you get there!โ she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. โEverything will be okay,โ he reassured me. โI'm here. We'll do this together.โ His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, Youโre my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed pastโthe Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was itโthe start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. โLooks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,โ he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. โJust remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.โ I rolled my eyes. โI'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.โ He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. โI'm just saying, youโll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!โ I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. โOh, shut up.โ We both laughed. He added, โYou need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.โ โOh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?โ Daniel grinned. โHey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.โ I playfully nudged him. โI think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.โ He appeared pleased with that statement. โFair enough,โ he answered with a teasing smile. โBut you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.โ I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. โCome on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.โ As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. โHello.โ I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. โWho the hell is this? Where's Sophia?โ a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. "Hello?" I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allow to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715929200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889807 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188598 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 305392575838829 | 4 | 1.3523364125193E+15 | 1716102000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120211473983910747 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10926&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715918677 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442477258_907723381125422_5055201934113902389_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DIRQeUDxw6sQ7kNvgFDKmrN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBrZH58Pm_UBVY9g7lQ1OBUYdpf4NNoN0xHPk-SGRpeOw&oe=667E7B38 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442496116_1606871263445710_5634148219212488631_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4BGTBDNyz1QQ7kNvgFtFIEB&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBPJ7OOwhF5P02UamA2lLjhDcP38NxAwSg0hLDkIJsSJQ&oe=667E844A | 0 | 3 | Two years of marriage, and I'd never set foot in my husband Elijah's office until now. After all this time, why was I suddenly entrusted to deliver these important documents? Could it be possible that theyโre finally learning to accept me? Taking a deep breath, I gently placed my hand on my stomach. The emptiness from the miscarriage lingered, even though it had been a long time since that day. I still felt lost and fragile, wishing for solace that never came. I missed my husband's presence, longing for a comforting word or touch. But he and his family remained distant and uninvolved, leaving me to recover on my own. Now, I was about to step into Elijahโs world โ his beloved company. My heart skipped a beat as I entered Elijah's large, elegant office. The room was tastefully decorated, with rich mahogany furniture and a large sign that said Sinclair Realty Group. But what made me stop in my tracks was the sight of my husband huddled with an attractive blonde over some papers. Their shoulders were touching, their cheeks almost brushing against each other. What is going on? I thought in alarm. Suddenly, the woman whispered something in Elijahโs ear while she gently laid her perfectly manicured hands on his arm. My heart jumped. I heard a loud thud on the floor and realized Iโd dropped the folder I was holding. They both looked up, startled. And thatโs when my gaze locked with that of the woman. I felt a shudder creeping through my skin. Serena Foster! She used to be a classmate of ours at Fairview University. She also happened to be Elijahโs ex-girlfriend. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. So this is why my evil mother-in-law asked me to deliver this document! Morgana had probably known that Serena was here now. My husband rose from his chair, abruptly pulling away from Serena who was throwing me daggers with her eyes. โYou remember Serena, right? She works here now.โ I nodded, my heart leaping into my throat and my thoughts raging in a storm. Theyโre just colleagues, nothing else, I thought, but not with full conviction. Elijah wouldnโt cheat on me, would he? All this time, Iโd remained hopeful that he could still fall in love with me. But now, with Serena in the picture, time might just be running out for us. โSo why are you here?โ Elijah asked, a frown creasing his brow. โYour mom asked me to deliver this,โ I explained, hastily picking up the folder and handing it to him. Then narrowing my eyes at Serena, I waited for him to explain why they were working closely, or to at least introduce me as his wife. But much to my dismay, he didnโt. It felt as though my heart was being squeezed tightly, as it dawned on me that heโd never really introduced me to anyone as his wife. Ever. โSophia, you look shaken up. Didnโt you know Elijah hired me to work here?โ Her voice dripped with sarcasm. โApparently, we make a great team. Funny, I donโt recall seeing you here before.โ She was purposely rubbing it in my face, and I wanted to slap that smile away from her face. She then added, โOh, right, you donโt know anything about business. You might just mess things up.โ โI take care of our home,โ I said bitterly, looking down on the floor for a bit. I felt belittled, and my husband couldnโt even defend me. Serena looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Just then, Elijah said, โNext time, Sophia, just contact me and Iโll have my assistant come over.โ "Fine," I murmured, my voice barely audible, wishing the ground would swallow me up. The weight of hurt and embarrassment pressed down on me, crushing my spirit. My heart thudded as I blinked back tears. He doesn't want me here. Suddenly, Elijahโs secretary came in. โAlice, please prepare coffee for the ladies,โ he instructed. โJust black for Serena. No sugar.โ Serenaโs eyes lit up. โHey, you remembered!โ she exclaimed, obviously delighted. Elijah nodded at her. โOf course.โ I watched the exchange with a sinking feeling in my heart. Serena gave me a smug look as if she was reveling in some secret victory. I couldnโt help but feel more depressed. Here was my husband, effortlessly remembering Serena's coffee preferences, yet he couldn't recall something as simple as my allergy to caffeine. โJoin us, Sophia,โ Serena invited with a devilish grin. โJust like how we used to hang out together in college.โ I struggled to contain my emotions, not wanting to break down in front of them. โI have to go,โ I managed to say, my voice slightly cracking. โIโll see you at home.โ Elijahโs expression remained unchanged, and my heart felt heavy with the realization of how little I meant to him. The way he treated me had only gotten worse after my miscarriage. What did you expect? a small voice hissed in my head. He only married you because he got you to have a baby. Youโre the one who keeps hoping heโll eventually fall for you. As his assistant Connor Hayes drove me home, I thought about how my husband's mom Morgana had begun ignoring me after I lost the baby. Then one day, she started talking to me again, only to treat me like a housemaid. I fought back tears as the heaviness in my heart escalated. My marriage was falling apart so fast that I couldnโt seem to catch up. When we pulled up the spacious driveway of the Sinclair mansion, a feeling of dread and loneliness engulfed me. Iโm back in this prison. Trapped. Helpless. I want to escape this prison! I screamed in my head, glad that Morgana was nowhere to be found. Yet. Running to my room and throwing myself on my bed, sobs wracked my body. And as I cried my eyes out, I felt something with my hand that made me sit up. A small portion of a brown envelope was peeking from under the pillow. My heart tightened, and more tears filled my eyes. I knew exactly what it contained โ the papers Iโd been reviewing the night before. I pulled them out and stared at the title that blurred before my teary eyes. It read: Divorce Agreement. CHAPTER 2 Sophiaโs POV My hands shook as I held the papers in my hand. I could hear Morganaโs voice outside. โSophia!โ she called in a sharp tone. She probably heard me come in and was now wondering where I was. Quickly, I hid the divorce agreement and washed my face in the bathroom. Thatโs when the door swung open. I dried my face with a towel and looked at my mother-in-law. She responded with a cold gaze. She immediately instructed me to do the housework, her tone full with disdain. As I began my chores, she stood there taunting me. โElijah told me not to ask you to deliver things in the future,โ she said with a scoff. โYou canโt even be relied on for such a simple task.โ Her words cut deep. โWhen you first came to our house carrying a baby, it was okay that you couldn't do anything,โ she continued. โThen you had a miscarriage and you had to spend months recovering and regaining your health. Now you can't even deliver a document, so what's the meaning for Elijah of having you as a wife?" Her words were like daggers, each one piercing my heart. And then, in a cruel twist, she added, โMy son would be better off with Serena. She's prettier, smarter, and she even managed to land a job at his company! Unlike you... You can't even perform simple housework that well.โ The room felt suffocating, the burden of her words pressing down on me. I felt utterly alone, realizing that no one had ever been on my side. I clenched my fists, struggling against the wave of tears threatening to spill. Sweeping the floor became a mechanical task, a facade to hide my turmoil. The repeated humiliations and frustrations drained me of the energy to fight back or explain myself yet again. I donโt deserve this, I thought sourly. Itโs time for me to escape, to save myself. With bitter tears streaming down my cheeks, I rushed to my room and grabbed the papers Iโd hidden. Staring at me from the front page were the words: Divorce Agreement. Iโve had enough. Flashbacks of how Elijah and Morgana had been treating me filled my mind. Despite my efforts to be the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law, Iโd always seemed invisible to them. Iโve been obedient, helpful, and hardworkingโฆ But no one cares. Not even my own husband. Iโm nothing to him. He doesnโt love me and he never learned to. Thatโs the most painful of all. My heart tightened. His indifference cut deeper than any overt cruelty could. And now, with Serena back in the picture, their attention gravitated toward her. I felt more isolated than ever. This is the last straw! I must get out of here, or Iโll lose my sanity! That evening, I hadnโt realized Iโd already fallen asleep when I heard the bedroom door open. Something made a loud, clattering noise. I quickly sat up and saw Elijah staggering toward me. He mumbled something about a dinner party as he plopped on the bed and started sliding his fingers down my bare arm. I hastily moved backward, giving him a look of disbelief. He was obviously drunk. If he wasnโt, he would have just ignored me and gone straight to bed. โHey, playing hard to get, arenโt you?โ he said in a slurred manner, his bloodshot eyes becoming more intense. Then without warning, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips. I didnโt have time to react, though, because he suddenly started unbuttoning my oversized nightshirt. โWhen did Serena start working at your company?โ I asked him coldly. He shrugged, but didnโt stop what he was doing. โNot sure. Probably recruited by HR.โ He traveled down and then his tongue followed. Finally the last button on my sleep pajama surrendered. โSerena is such a talented addition to our team,โ he remarked with admiration. As I reminisced about the scene I witnessed at the company, my husband and his ex-girlfriend Serena were closely nestled together, sharing laughter and conversation. But I couldn't muster the courage to confront her and ask her to keep her distance from him. Jealousy and pain gripped my chest. I couldn't believe he was saying all this while undressing me! I knew then that he still had feelings for her. โYou know,โ he said, oblivious to my disappointment, โshe's even outperforming many of the senior colleagues who've been with the company for years.โ Even as we locked eyes, there was something in his gazeโa kind of infatuationโthat he never seemed to exhibit when it came to me. He's probably picturing me as her! I thought with disgust. I was so disappointed in him, and didn't want him anywhere near me. But when I pulled away, he threw me an irritated look. โWhatโs wrong with you?โ he asked, taken aback that I was saying no to his advances unlike before. I didnโt answer. He narrowed his eyes at me. โYouโve been down in the dumps for months now! I thought youโd snap out of it, but youโve only gotten worse. Itโs depressing to even see you.โ I cringed at his words, the searing pain crushing my heart. He couldnโt even see how my spirit was being shattered because of him. โMaybe itโs because of the miscarriageโฆโ he mused. Sliding his fingers down the surface of my cheek and then my neck, he added in a drunken slur, โWhy donโt we just make another baby?โ I couldnโt believe my ears. I knew that whenever he was drunk, he spoke without inhibitions. He was often brutally honest in this state. Hence, he meant every word and that only showed how much he didnโt understand me or the problem we had in this marriage. My whole body was shaking as the misery and fury Iโve been keeping inside rose to the surface. He doesnโt get it. Or maybe he just doesnโt care. I was totally pissed off. And thatโs when I blurted it out. โI want to divorce you.โ CHAPTER 3 Sophiaโs POV I could sense his mind reeling from the unexpected news. He opened his mouth as if to say something. I expected him to respond, to react, to ask questions. Anything at all! But he never said anything. My heart thumped hard as we gazed at one another โ strangers whoโd been forced to live together. I had tried so hard to make this marriage work even after we had lost the baby. But it takes two to succeed at this, I realized. โI want a divorce,โ I repeated, keeping my voice steady. โIโm serious.โ Slowly he nodded. โYes, sure,โ he answered before getting up and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart felt like it was about to explode. I pulled my open shirt around me, desperately covering myself up, as I coiled into a fetal position with my head throbbing. A tear dropped down my cheek, and I quickly brushed it away. This is it. Iโm going to be free. And yet somehow, I didnโt feel that ecstatic. His reaction only confirmed my worst suspicions. Now I know the truth โ he never loved me at all. Heโs not even upset about the divorce! I sighed. Itโs time for me to move on. The next day, after eating breakfast on my own, I mustered up all my courage and called Elijah to the study. โWe should sign this,โ I said without any emotion, showing him the divorce papers. He sat on the sofa across from me, looking at me quietly. His gaze always made me feel a little nervous, but today was different. I signed the papers and urged him to do the same. โElijah, please,โ I whispered, making sure my voice wouldnโt break. โLet's end this.โ His face contorted in a horrible expression as he ruthlessly grabbed the agreement from me. But he didnโt sign immediately. He took a long time going over each page while I waited impatiently. Then his phone suddenly rang. I saw it light up with Serenaโs name, making my heart tighten. I canโt believe this womanโs timing! But Elijah only glanced at it before returning to reviewing the papers. Perhaps he didnโt want to answer it because I was in the room with him. A myriad of emotions threatened to engulf me. I stood up and positioned myself in front of him with my arms crossed against my heart. โWhy donโt you just hurry up and sign those so you can get going? Someone might be waiting for you in the office.โ He glanced at me warily, then took out his pen and signed everything. With an angry grunt, he threw the papers down on the sofa and stormed out of the room. Watching him go, I was filled with overwhelming feelings โ relief, frustration, anger, sadness. โIโm finally free,โ I murmured to myself incredulously. While I was packing my bags in the bedroom, Morgana suddenly charged inside. In her usual bossy voice, she said, โThe morningโs almost over, Sophia! Go do the laundry now.โ With a sarcastic huff, I turned around to face her. โSorry, but Elijah and I just signed a divorce agreement. I will no longer do any housework for you.โ Her face reddened in anger. I could almost see steam coming out of her ears as she crossed her arms on her pit and scolded me angrily. "You married into our family for two years, no children, and now you want a divorce," she spat out bitterly. I scoffed, not bothering to respond. It doesnโt matter anymore. I can finally ignore her completely! But then, almost as quickly as her anger had surfaced, her mood changed. โYou know what? It's actually quite nice,โ she said, her tone almost mocking. โElijah can finally marry someone better, like Serina. Every single day that I see you hanging your head in despair, it just makes my blood boil. Anyone would make a better wife than you!โ Her words infuriated me. I wanted to slap away that haughty look on her face, but it would just be a waste of energy. Iโm done here. Iโm done with all this. Suddenly, memories flooded back of a time when Morgana had shown kindness, especially during my pregnancy with her grandchild. She had been caring and considerate. However, after the miscarriage, her demeanor changed drastically. She began treating me like a mere servant rather than a member of the family. I could never understand why she became so hostile all of a sudden. Sometimes I wondered if it had more to do with herself than with me. That afternoon, I went home to where I grew up. As I settled in, I felt relieved that at least I had a place I could call my own. โLuckily I hadnโt sold it,โ I muttered, looking around the living room and remembering my adoptive father. This house is the only connection I have left with him. Night swept in quickly. I was worn out and exhausted. Climbing onto my old bed, I was ready to relax when I received a message from my best friend Kayla. It showed a secretly taken photo of Elijah and Serena in a club, sitting intimately close and laughing together. A chill ran down my spine as I read the angry message from Kayla: Bad guy Elijah! You guys just got divorced, and now heโs out partying with this whore already and flaunting her like heโs never done with you?! CHAPTER 4 Sophiaโs POV โAaarrgghh! I so hate that guy for doing this to you!โ Kayla hissed. โIf I had known heโd treat you like that, I wouldnโt have allowed you to even come near him during our grad celebration! And I wouldnโt have kept pushing you to hook up with him, no matter how gorgeous he was!โ Being the daughter of Raven Mediaโs renowned CEO, Kayla Davis always hung out with high society. She saw Elijah a lot at parties since they belonged to the same circle. We also all happened to attend Fairview University where Kayla and I had majored in Interior Design. Hence, she not only knew Elijah but Serena too. โYou should have seen them at the party last night!โ she cried out, causing some people to give us a dirty look. Lowering her voice, she leaned forward with a repulsed look. โThey didnโt even care that I was there! They were justโฆ Aaahhh! I really couldnโt take it, so I went over there and gave them a piece of my mind. I told them they ought to be ashamed of themselves!โ โOh, wow,โ I uttered in disbelief. โBut itโs over now, Kayla. Iโm doing my best to move on.โ Kayla was still fuming. But then, she eventually smiled and leaned over to squeeze my hands. โIโm always here for you, Sophia. You know that.โ โThanks so much. Iโm really grateful to have someone who really cares about me,โ I responded with a fluttering heart. โWell, youโve always had my back even in high school. So now itโs my turn to return the favor.โ Kayla and I became best friends during our freshman year in high school. We came to know each other well when we first worked on an art project together. Weโd hit it off at once, and the rest was history. โAnyway, I can see that Elijah never loved you and he doesnโt deserve you, Sophia,โ she went on. โSo what are you planning now?โ โWell, Iโve been giving it some thoughtโฆโ I began, suddenly feeling excited for the future. โA few weeks ago, I applied for this postgraduate program at Goldwell Institute of Art in Franceโโ โYou did not!โ she interrupted me, her lips turning up into a huge grin. Suddenly, she jumped up from her seat and gave me a hug. โThis will surely be your big break!โ I laughed. โI havenโt been accepted yet, you know.โ โOh, but you will be!โ Kaylaโs enthusiasm was so contagious that I could already picture myself studying there, exploring France, and enjoying myself. But then, my mood suddenly changed again when I heard my phone ringing and saw Elijahโs name popping up on the screen. I froze up. Kaylaโs eyes narrowed when she saw it too. โGo ahead and answer it. See what he has to say.โ As soon as I accepted the call, I heard Elijahโs sharp tone of voice on the other end. โYou filed for our divorce, and now your family wants cash from me?! Unbelievable!โ โWait, what do you mean?โ โYou know Iโm busy in the office, then here comes your brother with another excuse for needing financial help! He had the nerve to barge into the conference room and disrupt our meeting!โ Elijah railed angrily. I felt mortified and helpless. โIโll talk to Troy.โ โGood. Make sure he doesnโt come back again ever.โ Then he hung up. I was so shocked that I couldnโt speak for a while. My family's constant demands for cash had reached a tipping point. No matter how many times I tried to set boundaries, they continued to use me and interrupt Elijah. It felt like I had no control over the situation, and it was greatly upsetting. โSorry I have to go now, Kayla,โ I said, bravely deciding to act immediately. She nodded in understanding and we said goodbye. I immediately rushed to the house where my adoptive mother and brother had moved after Tom Bennett, my adoptive father, died. Heโd left me the original house where heโd taken care of me like his real own child. But the rest of the inheritance had been taken by his wife and son. Theyโd bought a bigger house and I never heard from them again. Not until they learned of my marrying a wealthy man in the famous Sinclair clan. Brenda was certainly not pleased to hear what I had to say. โWhat did you say?! You divorced Elijah, the billionaire CEO of Sinclair Realty Group?!! Are you out of your mind?!!โ Behind her, my brother Troy looked as if he wanted to punch the wall. โIt was never going to work out,โ I said, trying to maintain my composure. โJust please stop bothering him. Weโve cut our ties. You canโt ask for more from him anymore.โ โOh, man!โ Troy exclaimed with frustration. Two years ago, after I married Elijah, Brenda and Troy came back and pretended like we were a tight-knit family. At first, Elijah was kind and understanding of their needs. But when he noticed how abusive they had become, always asking for financial support, he became impatient and angry. One time, they even borrowed cash in my name and never paid it back. It had become one of the reasons why Morgana was so angry with me. โDid you fight? Maybe you can still fix it!โ Brenda said, looking desperate. Troy scoffed. โWhen I went to his office, I saw him talking to this beautiful, sexy blonde. Iโm guessing thereโs a third party involved! People who donโt know better would think that woman is his wife!โ I could feel my heart rate increasing. In my head, I could picture Elijah and Serena sitting very closely in the office. โSheโs the reason for your breakup, isnโt she?โ Troy said, looking smug. โI knew it! I never trusted that guy from the very beginning. Heโs probably been hooking up with different women since you got married!โ I wanted to make him shut up, but I just stood there, wanting to burst into tears. โUnfaithful jerk,โ Troy added, shaking his head in disbelief. CHAPTER 5 Sophiaโs POV My heart felt like it would explode any time now. โIt doesnโt matter,โ I eventually said to Troy. โItโs none of my business now. I donโt care what he does with that woman or with whomever.โ Then staring hard at him and my foster mother, I said sharply, โWeโre definitely not getting back together, so the two of you should just stop going to him for anything! Just stop!โ โButโฆโ Brenda began to protest. I raised my hand to stop her. โElijah and I are over. Besides, Iโll soon move to France and study there. And since you only contacted me again because of Elijahโs wealth, then now you wonโt have any more need for me, right?โ They were both shocked at my words because I had never spoken like that in the past. But it was time for me to step up and put myself first for once. โAll thing that you swindled out of my ex-husbandโs pocket, consider it as your payment for raising me,โ I went on in a steady voice. โWe donโt have to see or talk to each other ever again.โ On the way home, I began to feel a migraine coming. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples as I sat in the back seat of a cab. All of this dramaโs taking a toll on me, I guess. But as I neared the house, I felt increasingly queasy and unwell. I realized my health hadnโt fully recovered since the miscarriage. โCould you please take me to the hospital?โ I asked the driver, trying to keep my voice steady despite the rising nausea. He nodded and quickly changed course, navigating toward the nearest medical facility. The ride felt endless, each bump in the road exacerbating my discomfort. By the time we arrived, I could barely contain the churning in my stomach. I burst through the hospital doors, a wave of dizziness threatening to overwhelm me. My vision blurred, and I stumbled forward, nearly colliding with a figure in front of me. Before I could hit the ground, strong hands gripped my arms, steadying me. Gasping for breath, I looked up and found myself staring into the concerned eyes of a very handsome and familiar-looking man. โAre you okay? You look like you're about to faint,โ he said, his brows furrowed with worry. With our eyes locked on each other, before I could even reply, a look of recognition crossed his features. โOh, wait! Itโs you. Sophia Bennett from Green Valley High, right?โ I was surprised, looking at him closely. His features reminded me of someone I knew a long way back. โUh, Daniel?โ I eventually said, recalling his name. We had gone to the same high school, but he was a year older than me. โYes, yes. Wait, let me bring you to our family doctor. You look really pale.โ I felt too sick to pretend I was fine, so I just let him lead me through the corridor and into one of the clinics. He quickly introduced me to the doctor whom he seemed to know well. As the doctor greeted me, concern etched across his face, I explained how I'd been feeling. He listened attentively, nodding as I spoke. After a brief discussion, he led me to an examination room, asking Daniel to wait outside. The examination was thorough, and I appreciated the doctor's calming demeanor. Afterward, he suggested some basic tests to determine the cause of my symptoms. โHow are you feeling now?โ Daniel asked kindly once I sat down beside him in the waiting area. โA little better, but still kinda dizzy,โ I answered honestly. โThanks for the assistance, but itโs okay if you have somewhere to be. Youโve already done too much for me.โ โOh, itโs okay,โ he said with a smile. โUnless you donโt want me here.โ โItโs nothing like that, of course!โ I quickly replied. โThanks for accompanying me. It feels good to have someone to talk to while Iโm here.โ โWell, Iโm all ears. People say Iโm a good listener.โ I beamed at him, his presence a comforting anchor in the sterile hospital environment. Chuckling, I said, โI donโt really know you, Danielโฆโ โYou know my name. Thatโs a start.โ His grin seemed to brighten up the surroundings, and I just felt immediately comfortable with him. I couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity and trust wash over me. We hadn't been close in high school, but something about his calm demeanor and genuine concern made me want to open up. โI rememberโฆ Daniel Pierceโฆโ I began, smiling. I could feel my headache and nausea diminishing. โHigh school jock, but a bit geeky and always at the top of the class.โ He laughed. โYouโve got a good memory, Sophia Bennett. I remember you too โ the smart, quiet, very talented artist whom all the boys noticed but never had the nerve to approach.โ I laughed too at his astonishing description of me. โYouโre joking!โ โNo, itโs trueโฆ Really! Iโm sure youโve managed to get yourself a very good-looking husband. Let me guess, a CEO?โ He was kidding, but hitting close to home made me frown as I remembered Elijah. โGood-looking, yes. CEO, yes. But husband? Not anymore.โ โOh.โ His expression changed immediately. โIโm sorry to hear that.โ โYou know, it's been a rough few months,โ I began tentatively, twiddling my thumbs in my lap. โI'm actually going through a divorce, and my family... they keep asking for cash from my ex-husband, which just complicates things even more.โ Daniel's expression shifted to one of empathy, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. โAnd then there's the miscarriage I had... It's been tough, physically and emotionally. I just feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders, you know?โ He nodded in understanding. โIโm so sorry to hear all that, Sophia. But you seem like a really strong woman. Iโm sure you can get back on your feet in no time. Usually, it helps to be in a change of environment. Have you considered that?โ โYeah, starting anew in a foreign land,โ I answered, thinking about my application in France. โHmmโฆ sounds like a pretty bold move," Daniel remarked, his eyes reflecting admiration and amusement at the same time. โIt takes courage to make such a big change.โ I smiled weakly. โActually, I've applied for graduate studies in France. It's something I've always wanted to do.โ Daniel's eyebrows shot up in surprise. โReally? That's incredible! I recently got accepted at the Goldwell Business School in Parisโฆโ My jaw dropped. โWhat? Iโm planning to go to the Goldwell Institute of Art!โ He looked at me with astonishment. โWhat are the odds, huh? Looks like weโll be seeing more of each other. Those institutions share practically the same campus.โ I couldn't believe the coincidence, though I was still feeling down. โThatโs reallyโฆ something else.โ โSurely youโll get in. Where do you plan to stay in Paris?โ โThe Latin Quarter, of course. Iโm looking at an apartment there, since itโs where most students live.โ Daniel chuckled. โAnd it looks like weโll be neighbors too. I think we were meant to cross paths again right now, right here.โ He gave me a lopsided grin. โWho knows? Maybe weโre destined to explore France together! When you book your plane ticket, let me know. Letโs fly together. I mean, if thatโs alright with you?โ His offer warmed my heart, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. โThank you, Danielโฆโ Suddenly, I heard my name being called by the assistant, motioning for me to come back into the clinic. โMiss Sophia Bennett?โ she informed me. โYour test results are here.โ CHAPTER 6 Sophiaโs POV Daniel followed me into the doctor's office, providing support. The doctor smiled warmly at us, his expression giving nothing away. โWell, Sophia,โ he began, his tone measured, โthe results are in. Congratulations to you both.โ I felt a rush of confusion and disbelief. โYouโre going to be parents. Congratulations!โ the doctor added. Iโmโฆ pregnant?! How could that be? My last baby had left me only months ago. Even I just signed divorce papers with Elijah, and now I'm carrying his child? The room spun around me as embarrassment flooded my cheeks. Probably because he was mistaken for the baby's father, Daniel looked surprised but did not contradict the doctor. โOther than that, youโre perfectly healthy, Sophia,โ the doctor assured me. He went on to discuss some things with Daniel, but I hardly heard them talking. My heart pounded crazily, and my mind felt fuzzy. Once again, I felt like I was caught up in a weird dream. None of it was real. Daniel was quiet as we left the hospital. I didnโt know what to say either. โLet me drive you home, Sophia,โ he offered once we were outside. His eyes were filled with concern for me. I was just too tired and confused to say no, so I simply nodded. He did not ask any questions, and I was glad. What am I going to do? I asked myself in silence while in the car, feeling the panic rising in my throat. This is the worst timing ever. Elijah and I just got divorced, and Iโm supposed to have a whole new life ahead of me. Anxiety took over me. Everything was about to change again. If I have this baby, it wonโt have a father, I thought bitterly. And how can I take care of it on my own while living in a different country where I donโt have anyone to help me? My hand moved toward my tummy. There was no baby bump yet, but knowing that there was a little one growing inside gave me chills. Suddenly, I remembered how painful it had been to lose my baby before. This is a blessing, a second chance for me to become a mother. Would I want to risk losing another baby? Slowly I began to calm down. I took deep breaths until my head began to clear. This is a miracle, I told myself. I should be grateful. As I rubbed my belly, I spoke in my mind. Iโm so sorry, baby. Itโs just all too sudden. But I know that Iโm going to take care of you and love you with all my heart. Days flew by, bringing a welcomed calm without Elijah, Brenda, and Troy in the picture. However, internally, I remained in turmoil. Then, the news I had been eagerly awaiting arrivedโI had been accepted into my dream university to study art and design once more! Despite the uncertainty of juggling studies with a baby, I couldn't let this opportunity slip away. In just a weekโs time, I found myself waving goodbye to Kayla at the airport. โCall me when you get there!โ she said, her eyes gleaming with tears. It was the first time we would be apart for a long time, and we were like sisters. As I settled into my seat on the airplane, bound for Paris, excitement and nervousness mingled within me. The prospect of starting a new life in a different country threatened to overwhelm my senses. The plane began its ascent, lifting off the ground. I felt a wave of panic wash over me. Beside me, Daniel sensed my unease and reached over, gently squeezing my hand. โEverything will be okay,โ he reassured me. โI'm here. We'll do this together.โ His words were a comforting balm to my anxious soul, and I found great comfort in his presence. As we chatted throughout the plane ride, ate together, fell asleep, and then chatted some more, I began to relax and come to terms with the situation. I can do this, I thought with more confidence. Then touching my tummy, I silently whispered, Youโre my lucky charm, my baby. By the time we landed safely, Daniel and I were like old buddies. I was truly grateful that he was with me. As the cab wound through Paris, iconic landmarks flashed pastโthe Eiffel Tower dominating the skyline, the majestic Louvre in the distance, and quaint streets bustling with cafes and shops. Despite my worries, the beauty of the city had me momentarily elated, filling me with a sense of excitement and wonder. Beside me, Daniel seemed entranced, his eyes wide with wonder. Soon, we were unloading my bags at my new apartment. It was semi-furnished, and I was immediately drawn to the light blue walls and the inviting white sofa. But my favorite part of all was the large window that gave me a fantastic view of the busy city street below. This was itโthe start of my new life in Paris. I turned to Daniel, who was looking around the apartment with a satisfied smile. โLooks like you've got yourself a nice little place here,โ he remarked, glancing back at me. "Yeah, I think I'm going to like it here," I replied. Daniel chuckled. โJust remember to take it easy, okay? You've had a long journey.โ I rolled my eyes. โI'm fine, Daniel. I'm not going to keel over from exhaustion.โ He raised an eyebrow, and then grinned. โI'm just saying, youโll be too heavy for me to carry if you collapse!โ I threw the throw pillow at him jokingly. โOh, shut up.โ We both laughed. He added, โYou need to get some beauty sleep, Sophia. I'm sure you'll want to look your best when you meet your new classmates.โ โOh, so now you're concerned about my appearance?โ Daniel grinned. โHey, a little rest never hurt anyone. And who knows, maybe you'll meet a cute French guy who'll sweep you off your feet.โ I playfully nudged him. โI think I'll pass on that, thank you very much. I'm here to focus on my studies, not my love life.โ He appeared pleased with that statement. โFair enough,โ he answered with a teasing smile. โBut you never know what could happen. Paris is the city of love, after all.โ I felt a little flutter in my heart, wondering if I could learn to look at him as more than a friend. Perhaps it's more accurate to say he's akin to a brother rather than just a friend. The assistance he's provided far exceeds anything I've received from Elijah in years. Sighing, I went over to my bags. โCome on, just help me unpack already so we can check out your apartment next.โ As we were unpacking, my phone rang. I figured it was Kayla so I asked Daniel to answer it, showing him that my hands were full at the moment. โHello.โ I heard Daniel say. He put the call on speaker mode. โWho the hell is this? Where's Sophia?โ a very familiar male voice demanded, his tone aggressive and impatient. My heart felt like it had just plummeted to the ground. I felt my whole body trembling when Daniel handed the phone to me. "Hello?" I didn't have to hold the phone to my ear to hear Elijah's furious growling, "Sophia, YOU CAN'T just walk away like this! Where the hell are you now?! Without my permission, you are not allow to go anywh...." I pressed the button to end the call without hearing his entire words, calming my quivering heart with a big and deep breath. It's true that Elijah has never been very considerate or tender with me, but he hasn't really stepped on me rudely either. It's just that lately, he's been indifferent to me. Anyway, he'd never been as emotionally cranky as he was now. Did my leaving make him care? No, don't be silly, Sophia, he can be with Serena again now. He's free. How do you expect that he would care about you, a woman he had never loved? Daniel noticed my paradoxical anxiety. "Who is he?" Daniel inquired. But I could see in his eyes that he clearly knew the answer to that question. I sighed, "My husband. No, ex-husband." | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715929200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889809 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188599 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889811 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188601 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889813 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188603 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889815 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188605 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889817 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188606 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 320815617697069 | 4 | 7.966242787724E+14 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120207862110510240 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11037&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714025458 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440108258_921949033271497_5412151620752708860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEyq5OOloY4Q7kNvgFcD99V&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBOB4Z74uw9TGrhsW0ucW_DexVg_s9Wv01NPMSQPztnfA&oe=667E7710 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440315951_7667872636604929_270040588575752734_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=U2JHPGZAaOUQ7kNvgGXDiL5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAK0ks9bgVxjM-iJ_g1jLmxCrweetqzQ6JRHDo09KEoAw&oe=667E93F5 | 0 | 3 | It was 2:00 am. Wendy Maxon hadn't been sleeping for long when she was once again awoken by the sound of her children crying. She sat up groggily and took her daughter, Jasmine Walker, from the nanny, Jane Seele's arms. She was half asleep, but her actions were quick as she unbuttoned her pajama top. Silence descended upon the room again. She'd just shut her eyes to rest them for a while when a sound came from the door. Wendy thought Jane was bringing her son, Daniel Walker, into the room. But when she opened her eyes, she saw a familiar figure. Her heart clenched as her gaze landed on the man's handsome face. It was 2:00 am, and her husband, Jason Walker, had finally returned. Two hours ago, their second wedding anniversary had passed. Jason obviously didn't remember a thing about it. Their gazes met for a split second. Then, they looked away from each other without saying anything. Jason strode into the bedroom, bringing with him the strong stench of liquor. Wendy frowned imperceptibly. She hated it when men got drunk. When Jason approached her and saw that the cot was empty, he asked, "Where's Danny?" Wendy didn't even look up. She said coldly, "Jane's taken him away." Silence descended upon the room again, but her grogginess had thoroughly disappeared. Jason stood there without saying a word. He merely tugged his tie loose with one hand while unbuttoning his shirt. He didn't intend to stare at Wendy, but her open shirt and glowing skin caught his attention. Jasmine drank her milkโthe sound of her sucking was loud and clear. She looked like she was enjoying herself so much that it somehow made Jason feel hungry. He found himself wanting to try Wendy's milk to see whether it was really that good. When he realized what he was thinking, a wave of irritation washed over him. He cursed himself for his freakish thoughts before turning to head to the bathroom. The sound of him slamming the door shut didn't just make Wendy jump. It even made Jasmine shudder a little. Wendy glared in the direction of the bathroom, thinking that Jason was a lunatic; no one had done anything to offend him. Just then, her phone pinged, catching her attention. No one else would message her at this hourโit had to be spam. But when she grabbed her phone and checked it, she felt like she'd been slapped. "Jason had a bit too much to drink, so you need to make him some hangover soup. Otherwise, he'll have a headache tomorrow." The message was from Catherine Locke. Wendy stared at the screen for a long while, unable to stop herself from clenching her fist around her phone. Her knuckles turned white from the force. This was a blatant challenge and insult from her rival in loveโCatherine was obviously telling her that Jason had been with her. And what was with that imperious tone? She made it seem like she was the lady of the household while Wendy was nothing but a maid. It took Wendy a while to calm down. She suppressed her annoyance and replied, "How about I give up my position as Mrs. Walker so you can take it?" Catherine didn't reply; Wendy's message had probably pissed her off royally. After all, Catherine was also a married woman. Wendy set her phone aside, looking stoic. Though she'd won the fight, she didn't feel good about it. Her husband had gone drinking with the woman he loved deeply on their second wedding anniversary, and they'd even stayed out so late. What had they talked about? Had Catherine's husband, Connor Gale, been with them? Had they been alone? A barrage of questions flooded her mind. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Jason stood under the shower, allowing the hot water to pour over his toned body. It washed his fatigue and tipsiness away, but it also lit a small fire of desire within him. He shut his eyes and raised his head to allow the water to wash his face. He couldn't help thinking about the scene he'd just witnessedโWendy was nothing but a scheming woman, but oddly enough, he'd detected a hint of motherly love in her when she'd been feeding Jasmine. A strangled curse escaped his lips. What had just possessed him? Jason's expression turned frosty. He turned the water temperature down. Soon, ice-cold water poured over him, making the irritation, frustration, and even desire in his eyes disappear. All that was left was indifference and aloofness. He deliberately took his time in the bathroom so that Wendy would already be in bed by the time he was done. But he'd underestimated the difficulty of breastfeeding two children in one go. When the bathroom door swung open, Wendy had just finished feeding Daniel. Jane had already taken Jasmine away so she could sleep. Wendy didn't even look at Jason. She held Daniel in her arms and turned to place him on the bed beside her. As Jason approached the bed, she could feel the iciness he exuded and the dominance in his demeanor. As the bed sank under his weight, her heart trembled. Though they'd already been married for two years, the number of times they'd interacted in private could be counted on one hand. She'd always been this cautious and tentative when they were alone. It was all because there weren't any feelings between them to set the foundation for their marriage. Besides, their families weren't of equal standing. The only reason Wendy had been able to marry Jason was because of their respective grandfathers' friendship. Decades ago, Jason's grandfather, Albert Walker, and Wendy's grandfather, George Maxon, had fought in the same war. George had risked his life to save Albert, losing a leg in the process. After leaving the army, the two men lost contact with each other. They'd only been reunited a few years ago when George had been admitted to the hospital due to a serious condition. Albert had tracked him down from there. It was too bad the reunion had been short. George had died a few days later. Albert had been overcome with guilt. He felt that if he'd managed to track George down earlier, he would've had more time to repay George for saving his life. This guilt had transformed into affection and fondness for Wendy. From that day on, Albert had treated Wendy like she was his own. Unfortunately, Albert had been diagnosed with stomach cancer two years ago. Knowing that he hadn't had long to live, he wished to find Wendy a good husband before his death. He hadn't wanted Wendy to end up marrying someone he didn't know, so he'd done his best to set Jason and Wendy up. He'd hoped they would end up together. And that was how Jason and Wendy had ended up marrying. It was too bad Jason was in love with another woman. Besides, Wendy knew she wasn't worthy of him. Their original plan had been to get a divorce after Albert passed away, but they'd accidentally slept togetherโWendy had even ended up giving birth to twins. It wouldn't be as easy to get a divorce anymore. No one knew where the marriage would go from there. Wendy had prepared herself for the chance that Jason would ask for a divorce whenever he came home. It left her uneasy. But in truth, he couldn't even be bothered to talk to her. That was how things went on that night. Though they were sleeping in the same bed, the iciness in the atmosphere was enough to make the temperature in the room drop. Amidst the smothering silence, Wendy slowly stopped patting Daniel when she was sure he was asleep. She'd wet her underwear earlier when breastfeeding, so she reached out to get some tissues. At the same time, she turned off the lamp. Jason, who was still feeling the effects of the liquor he'd had, had already fallen asleep. He lay on his back with his eyes shut; his breathing was deep and slow. Wendy glanced at him as she sat on the bed. When she saw that he was already asleep, she quietly dealt with her damp pajama top. When she was almost done, Jason's displeased voice suddenly rang out, "What are you still doing? Go to bed!" It made her jump. She turned and said, "I'm almost done." Daniel was sleeping on her other side. Afraid of squishing him, she instinctively scooted closer to Jason as she lay down. But as she reached out behind her before lying down, her hand landed on his arm. He hissed, making her jolt. "Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose. Youโ" Jason was pissed. "Do you have to glue yourself to me when the bed's so huge?" Wendy was scared by his sudden anger, but she quickly composed herself and explained, "I was just afraid of squishing Danny. Since you're so repulsed by me, you can always go to another room." She wasn't wrong. They didn't have feelings for each other, so why did they have to sleep in the same bed? There were plenty of rooms in the houseโhe could sleep wherever he wanted. Jason's intense displeasure was apparent even in the dark. "What right do you have to kick me out, Wendy? Do you think there's no threatening your position as the lady of the Walker household now that you've given birth to twins?" "That's not what I meant." "What did you mean, then?" It was almost 3:00 am, and Wendy was exhausted from waking up a few times to feed the kids. She didn't want to argue with Jason, so she fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "Let's divorce, Jason." Chapter 2 A smothering silence descended upon the room as soon as the words were out of Wendy's mouth. Jason turned to look at her. His tone was colder than before as he said, "It's the middle of the night. Have you lost your mind?" "I'm being serious," Wendy said calmly. She couldn't stop thinking about how he and Catherine had been together until the wee hours of the night. She also thought about how Catherine had tried to provoke her. What was the point of staying in a marriage like this? "Don't worry about telling Granddad about this. I'll speak to him and tell him I'm the one who wants the divorce. You're not at fault in this." Wendy's tone remained calm. She lifted the sheets to get out of bed. "I'll sleep somewhere else tonight. I don't want to disrupt your sleep." She'd just gotten out of bed when Jason dragged her back and pinned her down. She yelped, feeling dazed from the impact. When she focused on Jason, she saw him hovering above her, looking furious. She lost her cool; her heart raced. "What are you doing, Jason? Danny's right there!" She was afraid he would use his drunkenness as an excuse to do something crazy, hurting Daniel in the process. Jason said coldly, "A divorce? You've already had the twinsโdon't you want to use them to solidify your position in the Walker family? It'd be such a waste to get a divorce now." "I want no such thing! The conception was an accident, and you were the one who made it happen. What right do you have to push this on me?" Wendy snarled. "An accident? You could've done so many things to prevent the conception." "I already told you that I took the morning-after pill!" "Ha!" Jason snorted. He obviously still didn't believe her. He'd underestimated her in the past. That was why he'd fallen for her trap and given her the opportunity to tie him down with the kids. Wendy knew he didn't believe her. In fact, he was sure she'd lied to him and deliberately skipped out on taking the morning-after pill, leading to her getting conceived. To him, she'd done it all so she could get a steady foothold in the Walker family. She couldn't be bothered to defend herself anymore. Jason continued pinning her down amidst the silence. As his eyes got used to the darkness, he was finding it easier to see things. Beneath him, Wendy's eyes were burning with anger. They were so close that he could smell the fragrance she exuded. The scene of her breastfeeding popped into his mind again. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward yet slightly amorous. If his memory served him correctly, it was their second wedding anniversary today. As a husband, it was only right for him to exercise his right and fulfill his duty. Wendy noticed something was wrong with Jason. She turned to look at him, wanting to say something when he leaned down, enveloping her with his pheromones. She widened her eyes in fear, finding it hard to believe that he was suddenly leaning down for a kiss when he'd been furious just seconds ago. Jason kissed her, but she didn't respond. She merely lay there like a puppet without moving. Those lips of hers had been quick to part when arguing with him earlier, but now, they were sealed. He lost his patience. When she didn't respond after he'd kissed her for a few seconds, he moved his lips downward to kiss her neck and collarbone. The closer he got to her, the stronger the fragrance became. The drunkenness that his earlier shower had washed away seemed to numb his mind againโin this moment, Jason's rationality disappeared as he gave in to his body's hunger and desire. Wendy returned to her senses. The sensation of the cool air grazing against her bare skin made her heart tremble. She stammered, "L-Look closely at me, Jason. I'm W-Wendy Maxon, not Catherine L-Lockeโฆ" A sharp pain pierced her before she could get any further. She cried out and instinctively tried to fight back, but Jason pinned her arms down and kissed her again. "It's not your first time. Drop the act." In the darkness, tears trickled down the sides of Wendy's face. She wasn't putting on an actโit genuinely hurt. Yes, this wasn't their first time, but it was her first since giving birth. Now she knew what it felt like to have her body ripped in half. Jason tasted Wendy's tears when he kissed her again. He frowned. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he tensed as he waited for her to adjust to him. Then, when he started moving again, his actions were much gentler than before. โฆ The next morning, Wendy was awoken by the pain in her breasts. It had been more than three months since she'd become a mother, so she was already used to this sudden pain. The first thing she did when she opened her eyes was to check on Danielโshe knew she'd feel better after breastfeeding him and Jasmine. Today, however, she didn't see him anywhere. Her mind went blank for a second. Then, she realized she'd messed up. She scrambled to sit up. Daniel had learned to turn on his side a few days agoโhad he rolled off the bed and onto the floor? She shot over to the side of the bed, looking down at the floor. Fortunately, there weren't any babies on the floor. Then, her body's soreness caught up with her, turning her expression of panic into one of pain. Wendy supported her waist with one hand while propping herself up on the bed with the other. The memories of last night flooded her mind. She'd asked Jason for a divorce after being provoked by Catherine. It had pissed him off. He'd slept with her until the wee hours of the morning. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't have been against their intimacy. After all, Jason was handsome and had incredible stamina. But he had been rough with her, and she didn't have much experience. Last night had been her first time having it after giving birth, and the intimate act became one of torture to her. Wendy had almost passed out by the time they were done. She hadn't even noticed Jason getting out of bed and Jane coming into the room to take Daniel away. She sat there dazedly as she recalled what had happened the night before. After her initial bout of anger, she couldn't help feeling shy and embarrassed. If her memory served her correctly, Jason had been gentle with her after she'd cried from the pain. He'd even given her time to get used to him. But he was such a cold, aloof person. He hadn't said a single nice thing to her since their marriage. Why would he suddenly be so nice to her? No, it was impossible. She had to have been hallucinating. She'd seen Jason's loving and gentle side before, but it hadn't been for her, his wife. He'd only acted like that with Catherine, the childhood sweetheart who'd gotten away. In fact, Wendy and Jason had only slept together because Catherine had married someone else. Jason had drunk himself silly because of how devastated he'd been. Then, he'd mistaken Wendy for Catherine. That was how they'd ended up sleeping together. And it was also because of this that she'd been kind enough to remind him who she was last night. It was too bad it hadn't done anything but piss him off even more. Maybe it was because he didn't think she had the right to even utter Catherine's name. Wendy was still in a reverie when someone knocked on the door, making her jolt. She instinctively curled up in bed again, pretending to be asleep. She thought it was Jason; she didn't know how to face him after what had happened last night. But Jane's voice was the one that rang out. "Mrs. Walker? Are you awake?" Wendy immediately opened her eyes and sat up, feeling a little awkward. "Janeโฆ are Minnie and Danny awake?" "Yeah. I fed them around 5:00 am, but they're hungry again now," Jane said softly. Wendy nodded. "I'll go wash up right now." Jane left to tend to the children while Wendy hurried to the bathroom. But as soon as her feet touched the floor, the soreness in her body made her frown. She blushed again. Jason looked cold, but he was oddly enthusiastic and lustful when it came to sleeping. Wendy headed to the bathroom with her hands on her burning face, feeling like she'd been sullied. She needed some time to collect her thoughts. Half an hour later, she was done feeding the kids. Her stomach started growling. She headed downstairs to get some food. Upon exiting the elevator, she saw Jason in the dining room. Wendy's heart skipped a beat as her mind went blank. It was already 9:00 am. Why was Jason still at home? Chapter 3 It had taken Wendy some time to compose herself earlier. Now, the sight of Jason made her panic again. She didn't know how to face him after the events of the night before. When a maid saw her, she hurried forward with a smile. "I've already reheated breakfast, Mrs. Walker. Hurry up and have your meal." "Oh, uhโฆ thanks." Wendy gulped and headed to the dining room. Jason bathed in the sunlight in his sharp suitโhe was flawless. He seemed like a completely different person from the man who'd had his way with her last night. Wendy had to admit that Jason's face was one of the reasons she'd agreed to the marriage. She thought they would learn to love one another as time passed, that they would spend the rest of their lives together in harmony. Who would've knownโฆ It had been two years since then, yet he couldn't even be bothered to give her the respect she deserved. She sat down without saying a word and picked up her spoon to have her oatmeal. Though she didn't make a peep, she was still thinking about the divorce. Wendy had been serious. It'd be bad for the children, but she and Jason would only suffer if they were to remain in a marriage where they weren't on equal standing and had no feelings for each other. Even if they were to stay together for the children, it would affect the children's growth and personalities. When she was halfway through her oatmeal, she mustered the courage to look at Jason. "About what I said last nightโฆ You should seriously consider it. Don't worryโI won't take any of your money, and I'll leave the kids behind." She figured this was probably enough to show that she wasn't trying to pull any tricks. Jason had been drinking his hangover soup while reading a finance magazine. At Wendy's words, he set his bowl down, his eyes darkening as he looked at her icily. It made Wendy's scalp tingle. Her heart trembled, but she forced herself to stay strong. "Grandpa fainted and was admitted to the hospital this morning. Things aren't looking good. Do you want to put him on an express ride to the underworld by insisting on getting a divorce at this juncture?" "What?" Wendy's expression shifted, and she dropped her spoon. She looked worried as she asked, "Grandpa's been admitted? Is itโฆ Is it because his condition's taken a turn for the worse?" Jason's expression turned uglier. "I don't know. We'll have to see what the doctor says once we get to the hospital." Wendy lost her appetite. She would've immediately left the table if not for the fact that she had to eat because she was breastfeeding. She picked up her bowl and gulped down the oatmeal in a few mouthfuls. Then, she grabbed two bagels. "Let's head to the hospital." Jason stared at her, his gaze appraising. His lips parted. He looked like he wanted to say something. He didn't believe for a second that she actually cared about Albert that much when she wasn't related to him at all. He bet it was because she was worried no one would stand up for her once Albert was gone. After all, Albert was the one who'd made them marry in the first place. Who knew what she was actually thinking despite her demands for a divorce? Maybe it was another trick of hers to lure him in. Maybe she was scheming something again. With that thought in mind, Jason's gaze turned contemptuous. He was starting to regret sleeping with Wendyโyet again. His expression turned complicated when he thought about last night. He quickly averted his gaze from her. If he were to spend another second looking at her, the amorous scenes of them in bed last night would fill his mind and mess with his rationality. A silent curse escaped his lips. Had Wendy placed him under a spell or something? โฆ Jason and Wendy left the house together. Since the driver was taking them to the hospital, she had no choice but to get in the back seat with Jason. On the way to the hospital, he received two calls from work. He wasn't in a good mood, so he gave instructions curtly before hanging up. Wendy knew Jason was worried about Albert. She sneaked a few looks at him before mustering the courage to say, "Grandpa's earlier surgery was very successful, and the doctors said he'd make it through another four or five years if he took care of himself. It's only been two years, so I'm sure he'll be fine." Jason's brows were tightly furrowed. He slowly inhaled and was about to say something when his phone rang again. This time, his expression softened when he saw the caller ID. Then, he answered the phone, saying gently, "Hi, Cathy." A woman's sweet voice rang out on the other end of the line. She sounded worried and anxious as she said, "I heard about Grandpa Albert's condition suddenly taking a turn for the worse, Jace. Has he been taken to the hospital?" "Yeah." "How are things there?" "I'm still on the way to the hospital, so I don't know yet." "I'll head over there right now, too. Connor left for a business trip early this morning. He'll only be back tonight at the earliest." Connor was Catherine's husband and also one of Jason's childhood friends. The three of them had grown up together, so Catherine and Connor also thought of Albert as their grandfather. Jason said in a low voice, "There's no need to go to such trouble. Tell him to focus on his work." "Well, I've already informed him about this. It's up to him whether to return. Don't be too worried, okay? I'm sure Grandpa Albert will make it through this," Catherine said considerately. Jason lowered his gaze, looking much better than before. "Got it. It's raining. Tell your driver to drop you off. There's no need to rush." Wendy, who'd been sitting beside him silently the whole time, couldn't help feeling like something was eating away at her heart as she listened to him. Jason knew how to be gentle and considerate; but only to someone else's wife. When the call ended, silence descended upon them. Jason held his phone for a few seconds before realizing something. He turned to look at Wendy. He saw her looking out the window, her expression calm and collected. She obviously didn't care about his earlier phone call with Catherine. He swallowed the words that were at the tip of his tongue. Wendy had only married him because she had her eye on her status as his wife; she only wanted his money and power. Why would she care who he had in his heart? That was why there was no need for him to explain anything. โฆ Jason and Wendy hurried to Albert's hospital room when they arrived. When Linda Jensen, Jason's mother, saw them, her gaze landed on him. She looked displeased as she asked, "Why are you only showing up now when I told you about this early this morning?" The Walker family was a big oneโJason had several uncles, aunts, and cousins. When the whole family gathered during holidays, they needed several tables to fit everyone. Times like this were critical moments for one to show their respect and concern for their elders. One would be reprimanded for showing up late. Jason glanced inside the hospital room through the window. He saw his father, Harris Walker, uncle, Horace Walker, and cousin, John Walker, speaking to the doctor. Before heading inside, he hastily said to Linda, "I got caught up in something." Wendy followed him, feeling confused. He hadn't gone to the office that morningโwhat was there to hold him back? Just as she pondered this, the answer came to her. Had it been because she'd woken up late? Had he been waiting for her? But Jason had never been so considerate toward her. Jason entered the hospital room; Linda turned to look at Wendy. The latter sensed this and stopped, greeting Linda politely, "Mom." Linda didn't look too happy to see her. "It's a woman's duty to care for the children. Since you have a nanny and all those maids to help you out, you shouldn't hold Jason up with those trivial matters." Obviously, Linda was blaming Jason's tardiness on Wendy. Wendy wanted to refute her but changed her mind since they were surrounded by members of the Walker family. She said in a low voice, "I'm heading inside to see how Grandpa's doing." Linda stopped her and snapped, "What's there to look at? Albert's just fallen asleep. Can't you see we're all out here?" Chapter 4 Wendy peered into the hospital room and noted there weren't any women inside. She knew it would be inappropriate for her to head inside, so she pursed her lips and waited in a corner. Behind her, hasty footsteps rang out; the sound of high heels clicking against the floor filled the corridor. Wendy didn't even need to look to know who it was. Catherine's act of provoking her last night still made her stomach roil, so she ignored Catherineโnot that Catherine wanted to say anything to her. "Linda, how's Grandpa Albert doing? I came right from my studio as soon as I heard." Catherine stopped before Linda, looking worried. Linda smiled affectionately at her. "His condition's been stabilized for now, but things aren't looking good. The doctor is talking to Harris and the others on the treatment plan now." Catherine wore a tailor-made dress, and her hair and makeup had been done to perfection. She looked like the epitome of a wealthy man's trophy wife. The other members of the Walker family nodded at her in greeting when they saw her. She returned their nods with smiles. Her expression became more worried at Linda's words. "I'll go see how Grandpa Albert's doing." "Waitโ" Linda wanted to stop her, but it was too late. Catherine had already gone into the hospital room. Albert lay on the hospital bed, looking fragile and haggard. Years of being sick had turned him into a ghost of his past self. When he saw a woman enter the room, he thought it was Wendy. He immediately turned to look at her. To his surprise, it was Catherine. "How are you, Grandpa Albert? Do you feel better now?" Catherine held his hand as tears streamed down her face. She became choked up as she spoke. Jason looked at her. They exchanged meaningful looks as their gazes met. Albert nodded and said slowly, "I'm fine. You guys don't need to worry." Jason grabbed a few tissues from the bedside table when he saw Catherine's tears. She accepted them and said, "Thanks, Jace." Albert looked at Jason, his favorite grandson. He held out a hand. "Jasonโฆ" "I'm right here, Grandpa." Jason bent down to hold Albert's hand. "Whereโฆ Where's Dede? Is she here?" Catherine's expression shifted as she pursed her lips. Albert only had Wendy in mind. Jason answered, "She is, Grandpa. She's outside." "Have her come in. I have something to say to herโฆ" "Okay." Jason tucked Albert's hand under the sheets before heading to the door. Linda was surprised to see him come out. "What's wrong, Jace?" She saw him looking at Wendy. Then, he said, "Come in. Grandpa wants to see you." Wendy pointed at herself. "Me?" Jason's expression darkened. He looked like he couldn't stand her idiocy. Wendy was only sure she hadn't gotten the wrong idea when she saw the look on his face. She hurried forward. Jason held her hand, catching her off guard and making her heart clench. Before she could make heads or tails about it, they'd already stopped by Albert's bed. "I'm here, Grandpa," she said. Albert's expression softened when he saw Wendy. He smiled faintly and said, "It's been hard on you, sweetheart, caring for two kids at the same time. Look at youโyou've lost weight. You must've missed out on a lot of sleep." As Wendy looked at him, she couldn't help being reminded of George when he was on his deathbed. Tears streamed down her face before she could say anything. Catherine stood on the other side of the bed. She frowned at the sight of Wendy's silent tears and said, "Why are you crying when Grandpa Albert's talking to you? He's perfectly fine, isn't he?" Wendy didn't respond. She didn't even bother looking at her. She quickly dried her tears and perked up as she smiled at Albert. "It hasn't been hard at all, Grandpa. We have a nanny and maids, and the kids are little angels. "They sleep immediately after eating, and they're ready to play once they wake up. It's not hard on me at allโฆ" Albert smiled. "Oh, you silly thing. All mothers have it hard." He turned to look at Jason. His tone became sterner as he said, "You're a husband and a father now, Jason. You have to bear those responsibilities properly or you'll be a disgrace to us all." Jason's expression was aloof, but his attitude was respectful. "I understand, Grandpa. I won't forget." Then, he nudged Wendy almost imperceptibly with his fingers. The latter understood what he wanted and chimed in, "You need to stop worrying so that you can get better, Grandpa. Jace treats me well, and the kids are doing great. There's nothing to worry about." "That's good." Albert looked pleased. He turned to look at Catherine. "Catherineโฆ" She didn't expect him to still remember she was around. She put on a bright smile and held his hand again. "I'm listening, Grandpa Albert." Albert stopped to catch his breath before saying in a low voice, "It's time for you and Connorโฆ to have a child. Men will only truly settle down and be more responsible once they become fathers. It's the only way to keep your family togetherโฆ" Both Jason and Catherine looked a little embarrassed at his words. Albert was obviously insinuating that they had to keep their distance from each other now that they were married and to focus on their respective families. They would only embroil themselves in trouble if they were to stick together. Catherine's face burned with humiliation, but she had to play silly. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Grandpa AlbertโConnor and I are already planning for that. Take care of yourself, okay? We need you to name our children for us." "That's goodโฆ" Albert nodded in satisfaction. Then, he waved a hand. "Go do what you need to do. There's no need to hang around here for long. I'm sleepy, so I'm gonna get some sleep." He shut his eyes as the people in the room backed out. Harris looked at the people waiting in the corridor and waved a hand, saying, "It's time to go. Dad's condition has stabilized for now, so everything's fine for the time being." Just then, Jason's phone rang. It was a call about work again. After hanging up, he looked at Wendy. "Come on, it's time to go." He turned to Catherine and said, "You should get back to work, too. Tell Connor there's no need for him to hurry back." She nodded. "Alright. I'll call him right now." Jason didn't bother turning back to look at Wendy. He strode off. Wendy hurried after him. She was going to ignore Catherine as she swept past her, but Catherine stopped her. "Don't get the wrong idea about what happened last night. It was a business functionโthere were plenty of people around." Wendy couldn't help sneering to herself. She wondered how Jason could've been blind enough to fall for such a scheming woman. She said coolly, "I didn't get the wrong idea. It's not a secret that he likes you. To him, you're the only woman worthy of being his wife." Catherine's proud, smug expression turned sorrowful. "Fate does funny things sometimes. I only think of Jason as a brotherโConnor's the one I've always loved." "You should be telling him these things. Then again, it's exciting to see him so tormented, don't you think?" Wendy's heartlessness upset Catherine. Her expression changed again as she suppressed her anger. "You and him are married now, so you should treat him well. How can you hope to see him in pain?" Wendy met Catherine's gaze. "Are you done preaching, Mrs. Gale?" "Why, you!" Catherine clenched her fists in anger at Wendy's attitude. She tried to keep her anger at bay but couldn't. She spat, "As Jason's wife, you should pay some attention to your image. How do you expect him to fall for you when you look like trash? Even a single glance at you would be enough to make his stomach turn!" Chapter 5 Anyone would be furious to hear such humiliating words, but Wendy merely laughed them off. She retorted, "Jason's blind for not falling for me; what does that have to do with me? Look at how shrew-like and pissed you are now. You're the one who's a disgrace." "How dare you!" Catherine had been raised to be a perfect lady, so she couldn't think of anything to counter Wendy. As she watched Wendy walk off, she turned to hurry to Linda. She whined, "Honestly, what was Grandpa Albert thinking? Why did he have to force Jace to marry someone like her? It's practically an insult to the Walker family!" Linda didn't like Wendy any more than Catherine did, but she wasn't totally on Catherine's side. She said rather resentfully, "Jace only had eyes for you, but you were set on being with Connor. How is Jace any worse than him? "If you and Jace had gotten married, none of this would've happened. Albert wouldn't have forced Jace to marry Wendy." Catherine was rendered speechless. โฆ Wendy had fallen behind. As soon as she entered the elevator, Jason called her. When she answered the call, he said icily, "What's taking you so long? I'm in a hurry to get to the office." She wasn't in a good mood but couldn't be bothered to waste her breath on him. She answered, "You can head straight to the company, then. There's no need to drop me off." "How are you gonna get home, then?" "I can take a cab, the subway, or a bus. It's not that hard for me to get home," she countered, feeling exasperated. She wasn't a baby or an idiot. How could she not find her way home? Jason didn't say anything else. He hung up. Wendy walked out of the elevator as she lowered her hand. When she got to the hospital's entrance, she saw Jason's car leaving the parking lot. To her surprise, she found that it didn't make her feel anything. She stopped and checked the time. It was 11:00 am. Since she gave birth to the twins, her life had revolved around them. She didn't have a job, a social life, or even any friends in this city. Wendy thought about walking around for a while, but she pushed the thought out of her mind as she walked down the steps. She decided to abandon her plan and simply head home. Wendy was turning to head to the subway station when her phone rang. Her expression turned into one of joy when she saw the caller ID. She hurriedly answered the call. "Hills! Why the sudden call?" The call was from her high school friend and best girlfriend, Hillary York." Hillary said, "I'm in Cornchester for a business trip, so I thought about dropping by to visit you now that you're rich. Remember how we promised not to forget about each other once we made it big? I bet you've forgotten all about me now that you've become a rich man's wife!" Wendy laughed. "Stop that! You're the last person I'd forget. Where are you? I'll treat you to a meal." "That'd be great! I want the most lavish meal you can think of." "Sure!" After hanging up, Wendy gave the matter some thought. A pretty good restaurant came to mind, so she searched for the location and sent it to Hillary. An hour later, the two young ladies, who'd been apart for about half a year, hugged each other excitedly. After taking their seats, Hillary observed Wendy and teased, "Look at what a low profile you're keeping. You're the wife of a man who's worth billions, yet you're dressing just like us plebeians." Wendy felt a little embarrassed. She explained, "I've gained some weight after giving birth. I don't look good in anything." "Rubbish! You were too skinny in the pastโyou were like a piece of cardboard! You look great the way you are now." Hillary leaned closer and said conspiratorially, "Women need to be on the plump side to make men go crazy over them." For some reason, Wendy blushed. She pushed the menu over to Hillary to cut the conversation short. "Here, take a look and see what you'll have." They ordered and chit-chatted as they ate. As they caught up, Wendy found out that Hillary's husband had been promoted and was about to take up a position in Cornchesterโthat meant their family of three would be moving to the city. Hillary was in town for a business meeting, but she was also taking the opportunity to check out some houses. She'd already found the right place to rent, so all that was left was for them to move over. "That's great! I'll have a friend here in the future!" Wendy was delighted. Hillary said, "I know, right? I thought it was such a coincidence too when I remembered you were here." They lost track of time as they continued chatting. Later, Wendy had no choice but to head home when Jane called to say the children were starting to fuss. She called for a waiter to settle the bill. She handed him a Centurion card. Hillary teased, "Would you look at that? Now that's what I would expect the wife of a wealthy man to do." Wendy sighed. "I'd prefer to get a job. I want to earn my keep so I can be independent." Jason had given her this card and told her there wasn't a limit to it, but she felt like she couldn't use it with her head held high. She wanted to have a career and feel like she was doing something with her life. She wanted to lead a life that was more than this. Hillary could understand what she meantโit wasn't easy being a part of an affluent family. She said comfortingly, "I'm sure you can do it once the kids are a little older." The waiter returned with Wendy's card. After that, she bid Hillary farewell before hurrying home. โฆ Jason had just finished a meeting when he saw a message on his phone. It was from his bank. He frowned slightly. The message informed him that someone had swiped his card at a restaurant. He'd given the card to Wendy when they'd first gotten married, but he could count on one hand the number of times she'd used it over the past two years. What had happened today to make her use it again? Who had she had a meal with? The out-of-the-ordinary act confused Jason. He couldn't help linking it to Wendy asking for a divorce. Had she sought out a lawyer for their professional opinion? Or had she met up with a friend to ask for ideas? His mind turned into a mess as he thought of Wendy. He didn't know what she was trying to achieve by asking for a divorce. Two years ago, when they'd first gotten married, they'd come to an agreement. Once Albert passed away, they would divorce, and he would give her the appropriate monetary compensation as thanks for cooperating with him. At the time, it hadn't even crossed their mind to try being an actual couple, let alone having kids together. But a year ago, when Catherine and Connor had gotten married, Jason had been Connor's best man. After all, the three of them had grown up together. It was apparent how he would've felt, watching the woman he'd loved for years marry someone else. That night, he'd drank himself silly. Wendy had cared for him that night, and he'd mistaken her for Catherine. They'd accidentally slept. He'd apologized to her afterward and had reminded her multiple times to take the morning-after pill. But two months later, she'd told him she was expecting. Several things had happened after that. The memory of them was enough to piss Jason off. Who would've expected him to fall for a seemingly innocent woman's trap when he'd always been the smartest person in the room? Just then, his phone rang, pulling him out of his reverie. Jason composed himself when he saw the caller ID. Some of the iciness in his eyes melted. "Hi, Cathy." Catherine said bluntly, "I heard Wendy's asking for a divorce." Jason's expression darkened. "Who did you hear it from?" "Linda told me," she explained. "She went to Imperial Bay to see the children after leaving the hospital this morning and overheard the maids talking about it. They said you ignored Wendy when she asked for a divorce earlier in the morning." Jason frowned, looking grim. He massaged his eyes with one hand, propping the other up on the armrest of his seat. It looked like he had to teach the maids a lessonโit was taboo for them to gossip about their employers' private affairs. Chapter 6 When Jason remained silent, Catherine realized she had hit the mark. "Is she out of her mind? The twins are barely three months old and still need constant care. How can she even think of divorce? Even if she doesn't care about Grandpa, does she not care for her own children?" she asked in bewilderment. It was a fact known that Wendy had been orphaned and raised by George, who unfortunately passed away a few years prior. Catherine sincerely doubted Wendy could manage her two children alone if they divorced. "Linda mentioned she wasn't home this afternoon. The children are crying from hunger, and she still hasn't returned. I've told you, that woman isn't as innocent as she appears. Grandpa Albert was so eager to repay the kindness that he misplaced his trust," Catherine added with frustration. Jason snapped back irritably at her complaints, "There's milk powder in the kitchen and frozen breast milk in the fridge. The kids won't starve. Besides, she's already a grown woman. She's entitled to take breaks sometimes." Catherine was stunned by his response. "Why did youโ" She was about to question Jason's defense of Wendy but stopped herself. Wendy was Jason's legitimate wife and the mother of his children; it was only natural for him to stand up for her. Recalling Wendy's words from the hospital earlier, Catherine felt a wave of shame and guilt wash over her. "I-I'm so sorry, Jace. It's all my fault," Catherine murmured regretfully. Though surprised by her sudden apology, Jason replied calmly, "There's nothing to apologize for. Don't dwell on it. If there's nothing else, I'm going back to work." Once Catherine agreed, Jason swiftly ended the call. He then dialed the landline to Imperial Bay and instructed the butler, Tobias Howard, to deal with the gossiping maids. Meanwhile, Catherine stared at her phone in a daze as a sudden sorrow crept into her heart. She used to be the one to end calls with Jason first, but now the tables had turned. Not to mention he had spoken up for Wendy, though he seemed oblivious to it. Would a man's attitude toward his wife change after having a child? If so, perhaps she should heed Albert's advice and give Connor a child. When Wendy returned home to feed her children, she heard a loud commotion downstairs. Curious, she beckoned Jane over and was surprised to learn that Tobias was dismissing two maids. "Why let them go? I thought they were doing fine?" Wendy asked, unaware of the afternoon's incident. As Jane worried that she would suffer a similar fate, she cautiously replied, "Those two said some things they shouldn't have and offended Madam Linda." Upon learning that Linda had come over to visit, Wendy heaved a sigh of relief. She realized that their meeting would've been tense if she had been home. Though surprised by the uproar caused by Linda's visit, Wendy refrained from commenting further, knowing she had no authority to interfere in household matters. She was just an honorary lady of the house. After an afternoon nap, Wendy grabbed a laptop and started browsing job listings. Despite her desire for a divorce, she had to keep it a secret due to Albert's declining health. That said, she still needed to make plans for her life after the divorce. At that moment, the children stirred from their slumber and started crying. In her haste to tend to them, Wendy left the laptop running. That evening, Jason returned home from work and headed upstairs for a quick shower before attending to his children. As he set his watch on the table, he accidentally nudged the mouse beside Wendy's laptop. The screen instantly lit up, catching Jason's attention. As Jason read through the search history, his lips curled up into a cold smirk. It seemed Wendy truly desired a divorce, but Jason couldn't fathom her reasons. She lived a privileged life, and they had twins together. What could she possibly be dissatisfied with to the extent of seeking a divorce? At that point, Jason couldn't help but agree with Catherine's earlier assertions about Wendy. On the other hand, Wendy couldn't shake off her unease since the moment Jason had entered the house. She wondered if Catherine and Linda had confided their grievances with him. While such issues might be resolved in a typical marriage, theirs was anything but typical. Throughout dinner, an awkward silence hung between Jason and Wendy, broken only by the quiet clinking of utensils. Despite the discomfort, Wendy couldn't help but marvel at her own appetite. She only set her fork aside when she had eaten her fill. Seeing Jason's swift departure from the table, Wendy sensed he was aware of the morning's incident. However, he chose not to broach the topic in public. Wendy concurred, understanding the potential repercussions of discussing such matters at the dining table. Night descended, and after settling the children to sleep, Wendy retreated to her own bed. Just then, Hillary messaged her about the residential rental properties they had visited earlier that day. Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. Despite living in Cornchester for over two years, her outings had been rare, particularly considering that ten of those months were devoted to conception and she had only recently given birth three months ago. As the two reminisced about old times, Wendy couldn't help but laugh genuinely. She implored Hilary to hasten her move to Cornchester for companionship. Jason stumbled upon the scene and was stunned by her beaming smile. In their two years of marriage, he had never witnessed such genuine happiness on her face before. His mind raced with questions. Who was Wendy chatting with so animatedly late at night? Was it someone she loved? Was that why she insisted on a divorceโto pursue her true love? At that moment, Wendy caught Jason's gaze, and her smile faltered. She quickly sent a message to Hillary about retiring for the night. "I'm turning in now. I'll need to breastfeed the kids later. You should get some rest too," she texted. Hillary responded playfully with a teasing emoticon. "Is your husband giving you a nudge? Alright then, we'll catch up tomorrow." Wendy couldn't help but blush at the message. Still, she calmly lay on the bed and turned to her side. Seeing her reaction, Jason became increasingly convinced that Wendy was being unfaithful. It suddenly dawned on him why she was adamant about seeking a divorce despite living in luxury. Even though they didn't have feelings for each other, they remained legally bound as a couple. The mere thought of Wendy potentially abandoning their children for another man ignited a fiery anger within Jason. Unaware of his tumultuous thoughts, Wendy set her phone aside and attempted to sleep. Sensing the mattress shifting under Jason's weight, she hesitated briefly before gently suggesting, "Shouldn't you be sleeping in the other room?" Chapter 7 Jason was about to slip under the blankets when Wendy's words stopped him in his tracks. He shot her a cold glance. "Why would I sleep in another room?" "Oh, don't get me wrong. I just don't want you to feel uncomfortable. I can go to the guest room instead," Wendy suggested kindly, feeling a pang of sympathy for Jason. After all, he had been compelled to marry a stranger while his sweetheart married his best friend. With that, Wendy rose from the bed and prepared to leave. However, Jason's question stopped her in her tracks. "Who is that man? How do you know him?" Surprised by his inquiry, Wendy replied, "Excuse me? Who might you be referring to?" Jason smirked. "Why the look of surprise? Didn't you insist on a divorce and suggest sleeping separately because you have someone else in mind?" Wendy widened her eyes in disbelief. After a moment's hesitation, she countered, "I sought a divorce because of your relationship with Catherine." "Catherine is married. She has no connection to me," Jason retorted sharply, but Wendy snickered at his denial. "Oh, really? Your expression around her suggests otherwise. Do you dare claim innocence?" she retorted, her tone filled with disdain. Jason was taken aback by Wendy's sudden boldness as she turned to meet his gaze head-on. "I hoped to free you from this unhappy marriage. But instead of showing gratitude, you slander me!" Wendy added. She was typically cautious and meek in their arguments, but her tongue would turn sharp when provoked. Jason recognized this trait in her. Despite her gentle appearance, Wendy possessed a bold and rational side; she was unafraid to speak her mind. In contrast to her delicate exterior, he found himself intrigued by her true personality โ lively, intelligent, brave, and even a touch fiery. For the first time, Jason truly took notice of Wendy. She had a pretty face and delicate features. Unlike the typical pretty faces he encountered, her beauty was akin to fine wineโgrowing more alluring with time. Jason recalled the first time he met Wendy; she looked rather miserable due to her poor living conditions. After living comfortably for a few years, her sun-kissed skin had turned fair, and there was a new air about her. Even without makeup, her beauty was stunning. In truth, Jason was willing to spend the rest of his life with Wendy for the sake of their children if she weren't the cunning and scheming woman he believed. But before he could convince himself to accept her, Wendy had proposed a divorce. It was as if she was eager to get out of the unbearable life. She was such an ungrateful woman! Upon sensing Jason's unusual gaze, Wendy couldn't help but feel unsettled. "W-What are you staring at?" Snapping back to reality, Jason frowned as he pulled the covers over himself and settled into bed. "Nothing. I doubt you'd be so considerate for my sake. I fear this is just another one of your traps." Enraged by his accusation, Wendy decided to set things straight. "Watch your mouth! I've never set a trap for you. Don't accuse me without evidence." Jason secretly relished Wendy's fury, though he concealed his satisfaction well. As he slowly lay down, Jason replied, "You've been carrying the evidence every day in your arms. Is there any need for excuses?" Wendy seethed with anger, knowing he was referring to their children. Sitting upright, she raised her right hand and declared sternly, "I swear on my life that I took the morning-after pill that day, Mr. Walker. If I'm lying, may the Grim Reaper come and claim me!" Jason retorted dismissively, "If oaths meant anything, the poor guy would never have a moment's rest." His words only left Wendy speechless with anger. Undeterred, Jason continued, "Why not just admit your mistake? I'm ready to accept whatever comes. I'm at the age to be a father anyway. It's just frustrating that you won't admitโ" "Why should I confess to something I didn't do? No birth control method is foolproof, as the doctor has confirmed. I'm just an exception!" Wendy interjected. Jason turned to face her, feeling intrigued by her fiery response. Sitting up, he leaned against the headrest and voiced his doubts. "The doctor advised against carrying the baby after you took the pill, as it could lead to birth defects. Yet, you chose to proceed with the conception. "This implies you never took the pill at all. Otherwise, why would you risk delivering children who might be born with defects?" Taking a deep breath, Wendy shot Jason a glare. "I did consider losing the baby upon discovering I was expecting. I know it's harsh, but it seemed the safest option. But when the doctor revealed I was carrying twins, it changed everything. Two new lives! How could a mother bring herself to lose them? "I decided to take the risk, relying on advanced medical technology. If the fetuses showed any abnormalities during check-ups, I would have undergone labor induction. Of course, I hoped for healthy children. And thankfully, my decision was vindicated." Before Jason could retort, Wendy added, "And let's not forget, you're the one who's at fault here. Why should I bear the consequences of your actions? Do you realize the risks of the surgery? What if something goes wrong and I can never conceive again? "I'm glad that I stood my ground back then, seeing that I've accomplished the most important piece of my life. Even if you slander me or hurl accusations, I stand by my decisions!" With that declaration, Wendy stormed off the bed in a fit of anger. "I suggest we keep our distance for now. Your infuriating words might just sour my milk!" As Wendy made her way past the bed, she recalled something and turned back to face Jason. "Oh, by the way, I didn't take the morning-after pill this time. It's harmful to the body, especially while breastfeeding. I can't risk endangering the children." Her words triggered a sudden realization in Jason, and he asked sheepishly, "Um, you... probably won't get conceived again this time, right?" | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714287600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889820 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889823 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889825 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889827 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188608 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889828 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 427610683180927 | 3 | 1.4036606936219E+15 | 1714374000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120208456182960342 | theryfhvn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://theryfhvn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11024&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713942893 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438664155_273795419142009_1610116581881481075_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qmmW_i1L7LAQ7kNvgEEZc2z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCYqVgHBWYTT6Rc-EBl9NC1zVBc50SpZgbGot_Gm82rQg&oe=667E9B8E | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438686196_779385647529119_6833913842728790223_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KkoJpMdVWBoQ7kNvgHl0Z9e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCKXblppNeLPUiHNNq8tlcCWdTxanNyOsEXSqTZ_fb2yA&oe=667E8E54 | 0 | 3 | Suzanne York was sold off to cover her brother's gambling debts. She was thrown to a border town, a hotbed of criminal activity, which shocked her so badly when she read the situation. Suzanne's beauty had caught the eye of criminals, who tried to force her to sell her body. Suzanne fought back with all her might, only to receive relentless beatings in return. "Please don't touch me. I can get my husband to give you as much money as you want. Please!" The leader of the group, Ken, halted his men's attacks. He grabbed a phone and handed it to Suzanne. "Tell your husband to bring 20 million dollars. Anything less than that, and you'll have to serve all of us before selling your body for us." A shiver ran down her spine as she shook from terror. She married Nathan just a month ago. Would a man who had never spent any time with her be willing to sacrifice so much money for her? "Okay," she replied weakly. At this point, Nathan was her last hope. She called Nathan. Soon, the call connected, but a woman's voice answered instead. "Hello? Who's this?" "I'm Suzanne, Nathan Morrison's wife. Please pass the phone to Nathan right now." "He's not available..." "Who is it, Sally?" Suzanne heard Nathan's gentle voice from the other end. "A scam call." Sally Hoffis ended the call hurriedly. Immediately, laughter rang out among the men surrounding Suzanne. "Your husband already has someone else. Forget sending money to rescue you; I doubt he even cares about you." Suzanne slowly closed her eyes, and tears trickled down her pale cheeks. Suddenly, one of the men asked nervously, "Say, about the name she said earlier. Her husband can't be the leader of that military, can he?" Everyone here knew who Nathan Morrison was. During the fiercest time in the regional conflict, he had led his army to rescue innocent civilians who had been left homeless by the onslaught and destroyed every enemy who had stood in his way. "Don't worry about it. Nathan Morrison is a fearsome man. No idiot would dare to sell his wife. From what I know, he's still single." Some time passed before a deafening boom resounded, shaking the ground. Suzanne shuddered and opened her eyes. | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1714114800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889829 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889831 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889832 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889833 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889835 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889837 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 444493184757659 | 2 | 9.6645612215282E+14 | 1713596400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120210168823370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712919826 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/435702673_2055808438153421_8494280966628791975_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=-ybG_fO2Y-QQ7kNvgGLCQ59&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDvYyk1YBAmFqTmrra-DOiOIzeqfdtJgsgq-3VuIn8_Dg&oe=667E7F46 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/437712317_930756498787588_4561978965145836526_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wpafoVLLZ_4Q7kNvgFs7DMF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAAQLAxeTYqJufHpIpmJ9rFi_mFWdU1AjAMDsG_l2OUQA&oe=667E82F2 | 0 | 3 | My childhood crush Felix rejected me. And soon he brought his girlfriend to me... He even said, "Luna, Lilac says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I started dating Felix's older brother, Colin, who started seducing me... **** I regretted agreeing to eat barbecue with Felix. Felix really was cruel to tell the girl who had a crush on him for years all about his girlfriend, Lilac. This barbecue shall be his apology after he rejected me in a humiliating manner in public before. On our way home from the unpleasant barbecue, it suddenly started raining. The both of us shared a small parasol. The umbrella had already shortened the distance between us. As if he were cradling me in his arms. Blood rushed up to my cheeks, I missed the smell of him. Suddenly someone called Felix's name. It was Lilac, holding a large umbrella above her. She yelled, "Felix!" Felix saw her and ran over to hold her in his arms. She giggled happily. He shielded Lilac as they ran in the rain, leaving me behind. Lilac turned around and yelled out to me with a provoking smile, "We go first, Luna!" The two soon left, leaving only me alone in the usually busy street, not even noticing that my umbrella was off-kilter. My heart felt numb. As wind and rain tore the skies above me, I stood there in the street and cried. Wake up, Luna. Didn't you know from the start that Felix wasn't yours? He never was and never will be, so why are you still crying for him? But I couldn't control my aching heart. Tears continued falling as I pictured Felix and Lilac running together, laughing in the rain. The wind and rain were so strong that I couldn't open my eyes. I could only walk back home based on intuition. It was too late to realize something's wrong with the ground - I fell down an abandoned storm drain. My right leg was numb. A large gash had opened up on my left arm. The water continued poring while the drain was too high for me to climb out, especially with my injury. So this is the punishment for loving the wrong person? As I was almost losing consciousness, someone called out, "Luna..." It sounded like Colin... | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713250800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889843 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188610 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889845 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188610 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889847 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188610 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889849 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188611 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889853 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188611 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889855 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188611 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889857 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889860 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 1653365378764186 | 1 | 1.1299075982217E+15 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209958990690760 | beokn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://beokn.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11675&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717150398 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441953216_823292996356634_4340478285056159241_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NRn-11detk0Q7kNvgFQr_hf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA3eDpTbKLN8p9L7h-A5YYJgS3ciBzztr49hQBieqrdVQ&oe=667E9E65 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447185248_1556463684934292_781436173810956898_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=yYkBTUevEWgQ7kNvgF1wj1C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDueRA0ybCNZJWv_SMR424uLGX3t-RGqYsUqyvDq0RJgg&oe=667EA8FA | 0 | 3 | In a dimly lit room, the heavy breathing of a man and a woman filled the air, echoing back and forth. They were lying on a sofa, surrounded by scattered clothing. In the same room, a woman with delicate features and stunning beauty lay still on the bed. Her complexion was pale, and an oxygen tube was attached to her nose. Although she appeared to be deeply asleep, the monitor beside her displayed a rapidly increasing heart rate. This scene unfolded in the most prestigious private hospital room in Lumina City. The woman on the bed, Hailey York, was the sole heiress of a prominent and wealthy family in the city. The couple on the sofa were her fiancรฉ, Justin Whitworth, and her best friend, Anne Roberts. Two weeks earlier, Hailey had been involved in a car accident that left her in a vegetative state. Justin had made a lifelong commitment to care for her. However, he was secretly having an affair with her best friend right in the hospital room, under the guise of looking after her! So engrossed were the two on the sofa that they failed to notice the alarming readings on the heart monitor. After their rendezvous, the monitor's readings returned to normal. After getting dressed, Anne lazily lit sat down by the hospital bed, wearing a smirk. "Hailey, what good does it do to be beautiful and wealthy? Your fiancรฉ still desires me desperately. You're so conservative that you won't even allow him to touch you. Do you honestly believe that it makes you more valuable to him? What a joke." Anne wore an expression of smug satisfaction. "I know you hate that smell. Well, I'm puffing right next to you now. What are you going to do about it?" Justin embraced Anne from behind, his hands wandering over her body. As his hands roamed, he didn't keep quiet either. "She's practically comatose now. Why even bother talking to her? Why not talk about your life with me instead, or perhaps something more... arousing." "Oh, enough already, you insatiable man. Can't you ever be satisfied?" Anne cooed, wrapping her arm around Justin's neck as they entwined beside Hailey. Justin kissed Anne's neck from behind and murmured indistinctly, "With you, how could I ever be satisfiedโฆ" Anne, completely absorbed in the moment yet taking precautions, gently pushed the man standing behind her. "Please, be cautious. The nurse will be doing her rounds soon. If we are caught and our relationship is revealed, our entire plan will be utterly ruined." Justin had always portrayed himself as a devoted lover. When Hailey fell into a coma, he insisted on proceeding with their wedding and vowed to care for her for the rest of his life. Touched by his commitment, Hailey's parents decided to transfer all the assets they had gifted her to Justin after the wedding. These assets included a seaside villa, a limited-edition luxury car, a bank account with three hundred million, and thirty percent of the shares in the York Corporation. The wedding was just three days away. At such a crucial moment, Anne wouldn't tolerate any complications. Justin solemnly proclaimed, "Just wait, our days of sneaking around will soon be over. After the wedding, we won't need to put on a show for anyone. Once the money and shares are in our hands, we'll get rid of this useless person and live our carefree, happy lives..." "Honey, you're so good to me. I love you!" Anne said, holding onto Justin affectionately. The two were inseparable, lost in their own world. They were so consumed by their excitement that they failed to notice the woman on the bed, her fists clenched tightly, her fingernails digging into her flesh! Chapter 2 Late at night, since the York family was unlikely to visit, Justin and Anne no longer needed to pretend. They returned to their respective homes. In the hospital room, Hailey opened her eyes. Her dark, black eyes shone like stars in the night, showing no signs of her previous vegetative state. She disconnected the tubes and monitors attached to her, jumped out of bed, changed out of her hospital gown into a black dress, put on sunglasses, and left the hospital. She took a taxi to Dreamwalk Bar. Dreamwalk Bar, the largest bar in Lumina City, was where her cousin, Luna Blue, had arranged to meet her. Luna had initially become suspicious of Justin and Anne's relationship after seeing a video of Hailey's birthday party. She believed that Justin had ulterior motives towards Hailey. At the time, Hailey, deeply in love, had refused to believe her cousin's accusations. So, they made a bet: they would see whether Justin would remain as devoted as he had promised if Hailey became comatose. Human nature, it seemed, rarely withstood such tests. One test was enough to reveal a person's true character! Hailey lost the bet and went to meet her cousin to admit her defeat. Luna embraced her cousin Hailey, offering comfort. She waved her hand dramatically and reassured Hailey, "Don't let someone like Justin upset you. He's not worth it. Today, I'll find you the hottest guy to make up for it." Leading Hailey into the VIP room, Luna instructed her to wait while she handpicked a handsome man to join them for drinks. Left alone, Hailey sat on the sofa, feeling restless. She didn't want to stay. Despite Justin's betrayal, she didn't want to resort to such methods for revenge. There were plenty of ways to punish a scoundrel, and fooling around shouldn't be an option! Deciding to leave, Hailey stood up and reached for the door. Just as she was about to leave, there was a loud bang as the door burst open. A stunningly handsome man walked in, truly exceptional in appearance. With sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, he had strong features. His eyes sparkled like stars in the sky, especially when they locked onto Hailey... He quickly closed the distance between them! Hailey was in shock, thinking it was a shame for such a good-looking man to be a gigolo. But suddenly, he embraced her and kissed her! Her mind went blank. That was her first kiss! "Let go of me..." "Don't play hard to get with me!" Hailey wanted to ask him what he meant. She wasn't playing hard to get. He had forcefully kissed her, and now he was acting like it was justified? But the man didn't give her a chance to speak. His kiss was forceful and prolonged. It was so intense that it caught her off guard. Everything that should and shouldn't have happened, happened. Much later, the man, satisfied, got off Hailey and began getting dressed calmly. She hastily dressed too, trying to cover the marks on her body, her mind still in shock. What just happened? Did she really just lose her first time in a haze? Luna had mentioned finding an attractive guy for them to have a few drinks with, but she didn't mention this! Hailey concluded that the man she had just been with was a bar call boy, commonly known as a gigolo. The realization that she had lost her innocence to a gigolo made her want to cry. In a matter of moments, the man was fully dressed and took out his wallet. Hailey finally understood what was happening โ he was expecting payment! Determined not to be looked down upon, Hailey swiftly took a handful of money from her pocket and placed it into the man's wallet. "Is this enough?" she asked. The man was taken aback, surprised by Hailey's actions. Hailey began to doubt if the amount was sufficient. Her gaze unintentionally fell upon the engagement ring gifted by Justin. Technically, Justin had given it to her, but in reality, she had paid for it herself. Since she no longer wanted to marry him, she no longer had any need for the ring. Hailey removed the ring and handed it over. "This ring cost over a hundred thousand when I purchased it. It should be enough." The man was momentarily stunned, then accepted the ring as Hailey hastily made her way towards the exit. Unbeknownst to her, four bodyguards had appeared at the entrance, but she was too preoccupied to notice them. In the hallway, Luna was anxiously engaged in a heated discussion with the bar owner. Spotting Hailey approaching, Luna quickly approached her. "Hailey, are you okay?" "Let's go, we're never coming back here," Hailey declared, pulling her cousin along as they swiftly left. Chapter 3 In the VIP room of the bar, a man gazed at the ring in his hand, his lips curving into a charming smile. This sight nearly caused the bar owner, George White, to drop his jaw in surprise. Was Trevis laughing? Seeing this man smile was a rare occurrence! Trevis, a business prodigy, was the heir to the influential and mysterious Johnson family. The Johnsons were pillars of the business world, boasting assets and enterprises that spanned globally across various industries, many of which were leading companies. Trevis was renowned and his reputation preceded him, but he was incredibly private. He never attended public events, and there were no online photos of him to be found. His mysterious nature fueled numerous rumors, one of which suggested that he might be gay. Because almost thirty, he still didn't have a girlfriend. And George, who just walked into the VIP room, had a devastatingly handsome face and was rumored to be Travis's lover. Trevis didn't care about the rumors, but George was deeply concerned. These rumors were preventing him from attracting girls. In an effort to tackle this issue, George arranged to meet Trevis and had planned to introduce him to a stunningly beautiful and independent girl, hoping that this would put an end to the rumors. When Trevis caught sight of his friend passing by, his smile disappeared. "What are you doing here?" he asked. George, as relaxed as ever, plopped down next to Trevis, wrapping an arm around his shoulders. A cold look from Trevis was enough to make George hastily withdraw his arm. Grinning sheepishly, George said, "I've got good news and bad news. Which one do you want to hear first?" "Tell me the bad news," Trevis replied. "The bad news is that the woman I found for you was involved in a car accident on her way here. She won't be able to make it." Trevis remained silent for a moment, then in a deep voice, he asked, "And the woman from earlier?" "That was Hailey, the only daughter of the York family. She's getting married in three days." Trevis frowned slightly. "And that's supposed to be the good news?" "Yeah," George leaned in closer and whispered. "Back off!" Trevis pushed him away, emitting a cold aura all around him. He was a straight man who had been mistakenly rumored to be gay. If it weren't for the necessity of dispelling these unfounded rumors, he wouldn't have heedlessly followed George's suggestion to meet a woman. Unfortunately, the woman whom George had arranged failed to appear. However, in a strange turn of events, another woman mistook him for a gigolo. The head of the Johnson family being mistaken for a gigoloโhow could he even begin to explain that? โ Three days later, at the Imperial Seven Stars Hotel, Hailey and Justin's wedding proceeded as planned. Justin, the groom, looked handsome in a tailored suit, while Hailey, wearing her wedding gown and elegant makeup, exuded stunning beauty, even with her eyes closed. Seated in a wheelchair, Hailey was accompanied by Luna, who stood beside Justin and pushed her. Anne, serving as the maid of honor, stood on Justin's other side in her bridesmaid dress. The ceremony commenced with a large screen displaying a video montage illustrating the couple's journey from their first meeting to falling in love. Initially, everything seemed normal, until the video suddenly switched to the inappropriate footage of Justin and Anne. The audience was taken aback by the shocking images, and the dialogues intermixed with heavy breathing were even more scandalous: Anne: "...I want to do it in your future home. It would be thrilling!" Justin: "I'll fulfill your desires, baby. Once we have complete control over Hailey, you can do anything you want. You can spend her money, live in her house, sleep with her man..." The guests in attendance were in an uproar. Hailey's parents were filled with anger as they witnessed their beloved daughter being mistreated so disgracefully. They were determined not to let these two scoundrels get away with it. Hailey's mother stepped forward and, with a trembling voice, confronted Justin and Anne, and slapped them across their faces, "Do you have no conscience? Hailey trusted you both so much, and you do this in her hospital room?" Seeing her son being slapped, Justin's mother immediately rushed to his defense. "Why are you hitting my son? Your daughter is a vegetable and unable to fulfill a man's needs. Why can't my son seek companionship elsewhere? Marrying your daughter was an act of charity, ensuring that she would have a place to be buried and a grave to get in. Men frequently engage in casual relationships with women. What is so shocking about that? Your daughter is in a vegetative state, but my son is alive and well. You can't expect him to remain a widower, tied to a lifeless wife..." Justin's mother, with a face marked by coarse features and aggressive eyes, shocked everyone at the wedding with her brazen unreasonable behavior. "You... you scoundrel..." Hailey's mother, always a lady, struggled to find the words as her anger shook her. Hailey's father, his face pale and his body trembling, declared with uncertainty, "The wedding is cancelled. It's null and void." "The wedding may be cancelled, but you still owe the full amount of the promised money as compensation for my son's emotional distress!" Justin's mother shamelessly demanded. With a smug expression, she added, "No one would ever marry her except for my son." Just then, Hailey, who had been sitting quietly in her wheelchair, suddenly opened her eyes. Chapter 4 She stood up and declared in a clear voice, "The wedding between Justin and me is off. Whoever is willing to marry me today, I'll marry him." "I'll marry you." A man stepped out from the crowd, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, tall and handsome. Hailey was stunned. She recognized him as the man she met at the bar a few nights ago. She never expected him to attend the wedding, let alone volunteer to marry her at this moment! In all honesty, she had only said that out of spite and didn't mean it. But the atmosphere was so intense now that there was no turning back. Her parents were relieved that their daughter was fine. They were overjoyed and immediately announced that the wedding would continue! Justin's mother and Anne were kicked out. The witness, who had performed many weddings and seen all kinds of things, had never encountered a groom being replaced on the spot. Excited, the witness immediately announced the start of the wedding. Everything was ready and simplified. They exchanged vows, put on the rings, and then kissed. The ceremony ended, and the reception began! The wedding feast was lively, and everyone enjoyed themselves. After the guests left, Hailey's parents insisted on taking her home. They couldn't bear to see their daughter leave one toxic relationship only to jump into a marriage with a man they knew nothing about. They appreciated Trevis saving the day and preserving their family's honor, and they were willing to offer him money as a reward. However, they couldn't accept their daughter marrying a stranger. Trevis turned to Hailey's father and asked, "Are you suggesting that we should annul the marriage?" His deep eyes were unreadable, but the cold glint in them and the powerful aura he exuded made even Hailey's father, a man used to dealing with influential people, hesitate. He couldn't bring himself to voice any objections. Trevis furrowed his brows slightly and said to Hailey, "If you regret this, we can pretend it never happened." Hailey replied firmly, "I don't regret it. Since we've already had the wedding, our marriage is valid." Trevis's thin lips curled into a slight smile. "Alright, let's go home." "Okay," Hailey agreed. A Bugatti Veyron was parked in front of the hotel. Trevis walked over and opened the car door while Hailey stood still, her eyes wide with surprise. She had attended supercar launch events before. Being rich is not enough to own a brandy car like this. "Is this your car?" He hesitated slightly before replying, "I borrowed it." Hailey visibly relaxed. "Thank goodness, it's not stolen..." Trevis was speechless. She continued, "Don't borrow such expensive cars again. Too much vanity isn't good. I have a car you can use." Trevis had never been pampered like this before. He felt weird but decided to go along with it and agreed, "Alright." Hailey's father had prepared a seaside villa for their wedding home, but Trevis wasn't comfortable living in a house owned by a woman. He insisted that Hailey come home with him. "Okay," she agreed. Hailey had braced herself for a small, even shabby new home, but Trevis took her to his place in the city center, which was beyond her expectations. The house was huge, spotless, and could be described in three words: high-end, grand, and classy. In this prime location, the house was worth at least a million. Hailey was puzzled. "You work at a bar and can afford a house like this?" Chapter 5 Trevis explained, โThe house belongs to a friend. Heโs overseas, and Iโm just taking care of the house for him.โ โOh.โ Hailey put her doubts to rest, but a new awkwardness arose. Tonight was their wedding night, and sleeping arrangements were a problem. Even though they had been intimate before, they didnโt know each other well, and Hailey found it hard to accept sharing a bed with a man who was almost a complete stranger. Fortunately, Trevis had no intention of them sleeping in the same room. He showed Hailey to a clean and tidy guest room. โYou can stay here. Iโll be in the room next door.โ Hailey walked into the room and looked around. It had everything she needed. The bedroom had an en-suite bathroom with all the toiletries she needed. She removed her elaborate wedding dress and stepped into the shower, relishing the hot water washing away her fatigue. But when she came out wrapped in a towel, she ran into a problem. She opened the closet, and it was completely empty. Of course. She had brought nothing, not even a nightgown. How was she supposed to sleep tonight? Hailey stood in front of the closet, feeling troubled, when Trevis suddenly walked in. โWhat are you doing here?โ Hailey squealed. She crossed her arms over her body, trying to cover herself, but her nervous movements caused the towel to fall. โAhhh!โ She screamed louder, squatted down, and wrapped her arms around herself, muttering, โYou canโt see me, you canโt see meโฆโ Trevis was silent. His eyes never left her body. โI can see you.โ His calm response made Hailey cringe with embarrassment. โDonโt look!โ Hailey glared at Trevis, her eyes wide, trying to appear fierce even though she looked like a frightened rabbit. She threatened, โIf you keep looking, Iโll poke your eyes out.โ Trevis tossed her a set of pyjamas without saying a word and left the room. โBang!โ The door slammed shut, and Hailey snapped back to reality. The pyjamas were clean and had a faint floral smell, but they were too big. The shirt looked like a robe on her, so she didnโt need the pants. Hailey took her veil, twisted it into a belt, and tied it around her waist, turning the oversized shirt into a makeshift nightgown. This way, she could walk around without worrying about accidentally exposing herself. Still a bit shaken, Hailey felt thirsty. There was no water dispenser in the room, so she stepped out to find some water. Trevis was sitting in the living room, drinking tea. He glanced at her and then looked again. He usually wore dark colors like black and navy blue, and even his pyjamas were the same. Trevis had never expected those dark colors to look so different on Hailey. The dark blue pyjamas made her skin appear even fairer, and the white veil belt accentuated her perfect figure, highlighting her curves and long legsโฆ Trevis felt a fire burning within him. โAre you drinking tea alone?โ Hailey licked her lips, her pink tongue showing. Trevisโs mind was filled with vivid images from their sensuous night at the bar. โYeah.โ He averted his gaze and poured her a cup, gesturing for her to join him. โThank you.โ Hailey sat across from him and drank the tea in one gulp. The tea was fragrant and sweet, very refreshing. But one small cup wasnโt enough. She looked at the glass pitcher next to the tea table. Though she felt it might be impolite, she asked, โCan I have a big glass of water?โ Trevis: ... He grabbed a large cup and filled it with water, handing it to her. Hailey stood and leaned forward to take the cup, which inadvertently exposed her curve. Realizing that, she quickly covered herself with her hands. Trevis thought she had the cup and let go, causing the water to spill all over him. โIโm sorry, I didnโt mean to! Let me help you clean upโฆโ Hailey grabbed some tissues from the coffee table and started dabbing at the water, not paying attention to where she was wipingโฆ When she finally noticed, her face turned bright red, and she stopped. Chapter 6 โIโm going to bed,โ she said, standing up and turning to run away. But Trevis grabbed her arm. โArenโt you going to drink your water?โ She was desperately thirsty, but shook her head. โNo, Iโm not thirsty anymore.โ Trevis didnโt let her get away. With a firm grip, he pulled her back and sat her on his lap. He poured another glass of water and help her drink. Hailey took small sips until she finished the entire glass. Only then did Trevis let her go. Hailey returned to her room, locked the door, and lay on the bed, but she couldnโt calm down. Her heart was pounding hard. She had never felt this way before. Was this the so-called spark of love? Hailey shook her head, trying to dismiss the thought. No, she told herself firmly. Even though she was married to this man, it was only a temporary arrangement. She couldnโt actually be with a gigolo who worked in a nightclub. Men like him knew how to please women, just like Justinโฆ She had been fooled once and couldnโt let it happen again. --- In the next room, Trevis took a cold shower to calm himself down. Just as he stepped out, his phone rang. It was a video call from George. After a brief hesitation, he accepted the call. Georgeโs face was full of curiosity and excitement. โTrevis, you got married? Just like that? Tell me what you were thinking at that time!โ โNothing,โ Trevis replied, his reply as short as ever. George didnโt believe him. โYou know the reporters took the photo of you showing up at the York family wedding today. If this gets on the news, imagine the consequencesโฆโ Trevis frowned. He didnโt need to imagine, he knew it would cause big trouble. The Johnson family had people who didnโt want him to marry and feared him having his own heir. Until those hidden dangers were eliminated, he couldnโt let them know about his marriage. The fact that George had the time to video call meant he had already settled the reporters. He called merely to show off his skills while asking for his payment for his 'serviceโ. This was their usual way of interactingโclear-cut and transparent, no matter how close they were. Help was offered with a price tag, fair and squareโa principle that had remained unchanged since childhood. Sure enough, before Trevis could say anything, George proudly said, "I handled the reporters immediately. Made them sign confidentiality agreements. There were six reporters, each got 30,000. So, you owe me 1.8 million." Trevis responded, "Do you think I canโt do math?" George grumbled, "The extra is my service fee. If you check my rates, youโll see I was actually giving you a special offer.โ Before he could finish, Trevisโs phone buzzed with a notification: 2 million deposited. George beamed, โThe great Trevis Johnson! Generous as usual! Hey, did you two not sleep together?" "None of your business." "I know itโs not my business, but Iโm just concerned. The York family may be rich, but theyโre no match for you. Theyโre suspicious of your motives for marrying their daughter. The Yorks are investigating you. If you donโt want your identity exposed, you need to act now. Want me to provide some fake info?" "Yes." Trevis ended the call. Everything important had been said, and continuing would just lead to gossip. George was the best lawyer in Lumina City. He ran a top law firm and owned a bar on the side. Moments later, George called again, but Trevis declined. George texted: You must have fallen for her, right? Trevis didnโt deny or confirm: Mind your own business. George: Even if itโs none of my business, if your grandfather finds out, heโd be thrilled! Trevis: Donโt tell my grandfather. He canโt know about this yet. Old Mr. Johnson was eagerly looking forward to his favorite grandson, Trevis, getting married and having children as soon as possible! To outsiders, the Johnson family appeared mysterious and low-key, but internally, it wasn't without its share of chaos. Trevis didnโt want Hailey involved in any of that mess. She had indeed performed exceptionally well at the wedding today, but she might not have the means to survive in the chaos of the Johnson family. George realized that Trevis wanted to protect Hailey. George teased, โOh, look at you, playing the knight. She must mean a lot to you. Was it love at first sight?โ Trevis replied, โSend some clothes and other items for her over tomorrow morning.โ George: โAlright! Wow, Trevis, you are thinking about someone elseโs needs. You must be out of your mind! Our Trevis has fallen in love.โ Trevis promptly added George to the blacklist on his phone. The next morning. At dawn, George arrived wearing a floral shirt, white suit, and shiny red shoes, looking like a butterfly, and rang Trevis's doorbell. "Ding dong!" "Ding dong!" "Ding dong..." By the third ring, Trevis, wearing pyjamas and sporting noticeable dark circles under his eyes, opened the door. โPulled a all-nighter, huh?โ George asked with a suggestive grin, his curiosity burning brightly. "Get lost," Trevis snapped. "Come on, spill the details. Don't be so stingy..." Trevis took the bags from George and slammed the door shut. Thatโs right, he was being stingy. Sort it out. Chapter 7 โDid someone come by?โ Hailey asked as she emerged from her room. She noticed the bags in Trevis's hand. He handed them to her. โYour clothes. Go try them on.โ โYou bought me clothes?โ Hailey was delighted. She had been worried about what to wear out, and Trevis had solved the problem. โThank you, honey,โ Hailey said naturally. When Trevis didnโt respond, she felt a bit awkward. Her face turned a cute shade of pink. She quickly took the clothes and hurried back to her room. The bags contained everything she needed, from underwear to outerwear, all in her size. The thought made Hailey blush even more. When she came out dressed, Trevis's eyes lit up. She wore a white, waist-cinching dress that highlighted her perfect figure. It was tasteful, elegant yet lively. The combination of purity and allure on her was striking, creating an indescribable charm. Trevis felt a spark of arousal igniting inside him. He took a step forward, but Hailey stepped back and held up her phone. โMy parents want us to come over for a meal. Can we go now?โ โDidnโt we agree to go back after three days?โ Trevis asked, furrowing his brows slightly. Hailey replied, โYes, but my parents said they have something important to discuss with us today. Are you available?โ If he didnโt want to go, she would go by herself. She understood that her parents were worried about her. Yesterday's wedding had been so dramatic that it felt like something out of a soap opera, and anyone would find it hard to accept. Last night, Mr. and Mrs. York didnโt sleep at all. They were busy investigating their new son-in-law's background. The investigation revealed that Trevis was an ordinary worker with no bad habits, no parents, and not even any friends. He only had a grandfather, and the two of them depended on each other. His grandfather had raised him by collecting scrap. Trevisโs background was exceptionally clean, almost like a blank sheet of paper. This reassured the Yorks somewhat. However, the Yorks still want to observed him more. Thatโs why they called their daughter for a meal. Trevis understood their intentions perfectly. The information the Yorks had found was all prepared by George. Knowing the Yorks wanted to get to know him better and understanding their concern for their daughter, Trevis agreed, โAlright, Iโll go with you.โ โReally? Thank you... uh, thank you!โ Hailey wanted to call him โhoneyโ but remembered last nightโs awkwardness and changed her words at the last moment. โCall me โhoney,โโ Trevis said, surprising even himself. Why did he make such a strange request? Growing up, terms like โhoneyโ and โsweetheartโ were absent from his household. Everyone was always serious, addressing each others in formal way. The word โhoneyโ was foreign to him... but why did it feel so endearing? Despite its unfamiliarity, he liked this term. โOkay, honey. Letโs go now. Oh, you donโt know, my mom makes the BBQ ribs. Theyโre unbelievably delicious. I havenโt had them in two weeks, and I even dreamed about them last night. Youโre going to love them!โ Hailey bounced over to Trevis, grabbing his arm and shaking it with excitement. She was eager to go home. Trevis gently pulled his arm away and said, โWait a moment. I need to get some gifts.โ As a new son-in-law visiting his in-laws for the first time, it was customary to bring gifts. Trevis didnโt want to be impolite. โWe can just get some fruit on the way.โ Hailey suggested. She knew Trevis worked at a bar and probably didnโt earn much. She didnโt want him to spend too much money but also didnโt want to hurt his pride by saying so directly. On their way, they passed a fruit store. Trevis asked Hailey to wait in the car while he went inside. Unexpectedly, trouble came to Hailey. Someone suddenly opened the driverโs door and got in. It was Justin. Chapter 8 "How dare you show your face here? Get out!" Hailey glared at him. Justin wore a shameless smile as he grabbed Hailey's hand. "Hailey, I love you. It was Anne who seduced me. I only made a mistake that any man might make. I've already broken up with her. Let's start over and build a life together." She quickly pulled her hand away in disgust. "Who wants to start over with you? I already have a husband. Stop bothering me." "You mean the guy who showed up at the wedding yesterday?" Justin's teeth clenched with jealousy at the thought of Trevis. That man had appeared out of nowhere and gotten him thrown out of the wedding. Justin didn't think he was wrong for cheating. He only hated that someone else had ruined his plans. He persisted, "Hailey, I know you love me. You found another man just to make me jealous. Come on, stop acting like a child. You embarrassed me yesterday, but let's call it even and never mention it again, okay? "Anne has already left Lumina City. She won't be part of our lives anymore. Let's start over..." He thought he could brush off the incident with a few sweet words like he used to. Justin had it all planned out in his mind, but Hailey had long seen through his unpleasant facade. She sneered, "Start over? In your dreams! I'd rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you, Justin. Give up on that idea." Hailey was usually gentle, but once she made up her mind, there was no turning back. Seeing that reconciliation was hopeless, Justin immediately resorted to insults. "My mom was right, you're just a giglet. What kind of wedding swaps the groom at the last minute? You and that guy were surely engaging in an affair all along, causing me to lose my reputation and money... Hailey, you owe me compensation for the emotional distress you caused. I won't let the humiliation I suffered yesterday go unpunished!" Hailey didn't waste words. She slapped him hard across the face. "Get out!" Justin gritted his teeth. "If I can't have you, no one else will." He suddenly grabbed her, pressing his foul-smelling mouth towards her face. Hailey struggled desperately, pushing and kicking. But a woman's strength couldn't match a man's, and she was about to be forcibly kissed by Justin. At that critical moment, a cold gust of wind swept in as the car door swung open. Justin was yanked out by the scruff of his neck and punched squarely in the face. Dazed, he saw stars and felt more rage than pain. "Get lost! This is between me and my wife. It's none of your business." Trevis's sharp eyes narrowed as he stepped closer. "Who are you calling your wife, uh?" His powerful presence and icy stare made Justin tremble with fear. "You... you just wait, this isn't over!" Justin stammered before scrambling away. Trevis watched him go, a flash of anger crossing his face before his expression returned to normal. He turned back to Hailey. "Are you okay?" "I'm fine, thank you!" "I'm your husband. No need to thank me." During the scuffle with Justin, Hailey's clothes had gotten wrinkled. Not wanting her parents to worry, she suggested going to the mall to get a new outfit. Trevis agreed and accompanied her, taking her to his favorite store. Hailey gasped as they walked in. This store was high-end, exclusive, and membership-based. Hailey asked, "How do you have a membership to this store?" | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889870 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 1086529679437962 | 1 | 4.205586438356E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 105559638886710 | 0 | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 120205967718520334 | lewyslandscaping.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Transform Your Space With Precision | Landscaping experts. | https://www.lewyslandscaping.com/ | 1705564904 | 1.0555963888671E+14 | Lewy's | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420190041_346766758283651_4311395696293819188_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=eASw4NLqig4Q7kNvgEno15O&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD0RsEs3p4ByM_9TRi2ThvATII1B47tz4LOMYd3RH_MoA&oe=667EA3EB | person_profile | 0 | Lewy's | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420181046_920308233008002_3085060648356899485_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=LmXJpANqlQQQ7kNvgF7oB-y&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAbK4mLDLbPmaIGdUBqzrNf2cNv6hTtTFja1auJ5xO4kg&oe=667E9B48 | 0 | 3 | Landscaping experts. | Lewy's Sod, Landscaping & Dirt Work | 538 | https://facebook.com/lewysparistn | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1707897600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889877 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 2/16/25, 12:13 AM | 1719188613 | 1739686413 | 1026 | 2008528719567640 | 1 | 1.5255378980293E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 325257210674037 | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | 120210844367230782 | www.medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | video | SEMAGIUTIDE: Fast & Sustainable Results! | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/melt-medical-14-optin | 1718900606 | 3.2525721067404E+14 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448700090_1010592297238077_5108051299873800378_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IaFO6JHR5-8Q7kNvgHTMFDj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCHLK4SKNCiI6X8_gfr3eBi38G1HRAyLZM4BYk9ckE8FQ&oe=667E7E0A | person_profile | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448777482_1831221560705020_8122777173355581580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=050U6_u5Y90Q7kNvgGGNzNx&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoLBYD8fWQ4z_hUBSIO59HtLhJhZhETd_r5XwIhuCN3w&oe=667E9D0F | 0 | 3 | ๐โโ๏ธ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ & ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> Are you tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of dieting and weight gain? ๐<br /> <br /> Our ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ can help you break that cycle and achieve the results youโve been looking for! ๐ช<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + $๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ treatment plans, making it easier than ever to get started! ๐<br /> <br /> So letโs say goodbye to the old you and hello to the new, healthier, happier you! ๐ | Melt Medical - Burbank | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560447488435 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889878 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/3/25, 7:23 PM | 1719188613 | 1746318227 | 1026 | 2059401911141081 | 1 | 2.5783429490239E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 325257210674037 | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | 120210844359910782 | medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | image | SEMAGIUTIDE: Fast & Sustainable Results! | Free Medical Aesthetics Consultation | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/melt-medical-14-optin | 1718900244 | 3.2525721067404E+14 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448751565_444194928470903_4207871050684222371_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Oev5wToN_cMQ7kNvgHowiqS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAnkX-8L3ejQUfjdiP18EUUKIaVJtAvraowZV6mHRxPTA&oe=667E9879 | person_profile | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448683544_1239527933875483_6249407306999562191_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Rgy_-VLyrIMQ7kNvgFOpMlQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD4PKRNvEyxWPIxIG-WbyhvhvlwF6Hxv8U7W1YamweLA&oe=667E9407 | 0 | 3 | ๐โโ๏ธ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ & ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> Are you tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of dieting and weight gain? ๐<br /> <br /> Our ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ can help you break that cycle and achieve the results youโve been looking for! ๐ช<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + $๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ treatment plans, making it easier than ever to get started! ๐<br /> <br /> So letโs say goodbye to the old you and hello to the new, healthier, happier you! ๐ | Melt Medical - Burbank | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560447488435 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888937 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 5/16/25, 11:25 AM | 1719188465 | 1747412713 | 1026 | 1643450166404954 | 1 | 3.036715261573E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 560184967681778 | 0 | Italo Jeweler | 120210287738360722 | www.italojewelry.com | Shop now | NONE | video | best seller | โ Easy Return & One Year Warranty | https://www.italojewelry.com/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=fb-1130-02&utm_campaign=1211-17 | 1718175525 | 5.6018496768178E+14 | Italo Jeweler | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448088357_394857866245916_4637779695609616672_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=b--3My_tgAIQ7kNvgG5wE4m&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDF5639h4KmcpcbfavXnYzENBZprShOF53knUNX-ywZ6g&oe=667E7247 | person_profile | 0 | Italo Jewelry | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448233612_971759551396156_3148317787495871683_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c3rem0ECXCkQ7kNvgErnqMv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAFXSqp7U0KUQBy8UU-7iDah8jwqEQoEcolZC9RHriA0g&oe=667E98BB | 0 | 3 | ๐ A present as perfect as she is๐ฅฐ<br /> โ Any order 10% off and more promotions enjoy now.<br /> Learn more:<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fitalojewelry.io%2FCwo&h=AT0SFc5deNqDoHSNd4OWZe4PTQ-oI46nQu8I4lKpw-9Rsl1UXtN9wY1NkmaE2-rz6aXf1XRB1dtYkfhtvFxHh0aCoY80GijKfh1AwbW8tYPRYP_Oy63DMCtrA1LfmQsmJJcoXiThaG9MhzPbRcB0HIk4p2lp-Q" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">http://italojewelry.io/Cwo</a><br /> ๐Free shipping & Easy return๐ | Italo Jeweler | 19110 | https://facebook.com/italojeweler | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889874 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678812 | 1026 | 1743723312807882 | 1 | 1.3199004653399E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 145409685488567 | 0 | Clark County Public Library | 120207253776240427 | www.ccplohio.org | Contact us | NONE | video | Enrich Your Journey Beyond Books | Ignite your knowledge. | https://www.ccplohio.org/ | 1705554481 | 1.4540968548857E+14 | Clark County Public Library | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420097207_912538046777862_1082205696628937572_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=la_cGeikATIQ7kNvgFocLn3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCS7HrKkV_UC11wNquXtQBR7YGZTMWPZ-B_ZKHSZvYUQA&oe=667E8BA5 | person_profile | 0 | 0 | 3 | From captivating children's programs to versatile meeting spaces, curated articles, and language learning opportunities. | Clark County Public Library | 3943 | https://facebook.com/ClarkCountyPublicLibrary | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1706601600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889071 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678812 | 1026 | 989063109520358 | 1 | 9.7705697704554E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120209559278060084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Discover Effortless Relocations With Us | Choose us for stress-free moves! | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1715588930 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441450794_7441351729289684_4996825761901876544_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oR684CB2GVoQ7kNvgGOWGVE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAjLSdHKXsLMLDMU0l4ELnOoawlNKNl2DAO7-PAU1UFWg&oe=667E885D | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440496763_742214424660267_3958153346325376394_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FReBw_TcaJAQ7kNvgHAri-9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDhHElQebZ6FpahZIcalmpq6zOPfVhNsVFtG9MYqR4ORQ&oe=667E9B4F | 0 | 3 | Choose us for stress-free moves! | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716188400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889072 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678812 | 1026 | 989063109520358 | 1 | 9.7705697704554E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120209559278060084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Discover Effortless Relocations With Us | Choose us for stress-free moves! | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1715588930 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441450794_7441351729289684_4996825761901876544_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oR684CB2GVoQ7kNvgGOWGVE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAjLSdHKXsLMLDMU0l4ELnOoawlNKNl2DAO7-PAU1UFWg&oe=667E885D | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440496763_742214424660267_3958153346325376394_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FReBw_TcaJAQ7kNvgHAri-9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDhHElQebZ6FpahZIcalmpq6zOPfVhNsVFtG9MYqR4ORQ&oe=667E9B4F | 0 | 3 | Choose us for stress-free moves! | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716188400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889073 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678812 | 1026 | 989063109520358 | 1 | 9.7705697704554E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120209559278060084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Discover Effortless Relocations With Us | Choose us for stress-free moves! | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1715588930 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441450794_7441351729289684_4996825761901876544_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oR684CB2GVoQ7kNvgGOWGVE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAjLSdHKXsLMLDMU0l4ELnOoawlNKNl2DAO7-PAU1UFWg&oe=667E885D | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440496763_742214424660267_3958153346325376394_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FReBw_TcaJAQ7kNvgHAri-9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDhHElQebZ6FpahZIcalmpq6zOPfVhNsVFtG9MYqR4ORQ&oe=667E9B4F | 0 | 3 | Choose us for stress-free moves! | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716188400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889075 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678812 | 1026 | 989063109520358 | 1 | 9.7705697704554E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120209559278060084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Discover Effortless Relocations With Us | Choose us for stress-free moves! | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1715588930 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441450794_7441351729289684_4996825761901876544_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oR684CB2GVoQ7kNvgGOWGVE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAjLSdHKXsLMLDMU0l4ELnOoawlNKNl2DAO7-PAU1UFWg&oe=667E885D | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440496763_742214424660267_3958153346325376394_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FReBw_TcaJAQ7kNvgHAri-9&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDhHElQebZ6FpahZIcalmpq6zOPfVhNsVFtG9MYqR4ORQ&oe=667E9B4F | 0 | 3 | Choose us for stress-free moves! | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716188400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888895 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678812 | 1026 | 293993793781524 | 3 | 1.1303781580331E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 106230892147834 | 0 | Wahooly | 120208392182580620 | shopwahooly.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://shopwahooly.com/products/card-shuffler | 1716119610 | 1.0623089214783E+14 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442491970_969526491517006_8703564632626724885_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=IJFowhf6MakQ7kNvgHxIUTJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDhFV99aGz8VhhZWmz9H4AF08VjHyyeDJqt5dBKCP-dXQ&oe=667E9430 | person_profile | 0 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445351060_1356953208484933_8015502602547228340_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FKgGzHuz_b8Q7kNvgFtN1oN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDnq0bt6k6JakgKpWtOc4wakJw4PNP3LkNnVAQ8_1PJuw&oe=667E92F6 | 0 | 3 | Make card games a breeze with our Manual Card Shuffler โ enjoy smooth, hassle-free shuffling every time! ๐ฒ | Wahooly | 71 | https://facebook.com/Wahoooly | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888850 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188463 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 307831482391267 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 104992632509232 | 0 | HeartlyLove | 120209492991140724 | norvure.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Turmeric Cleansing Pads | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/glowguard%E2%84%A2-turmeric-cleansing-pads-reveal-your-radiant-skin | 1718171008 | 1.0499263250923E+14 | HeartlyLove | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448266620_3888894784682616_8559472440164809860_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=m3ry4xKGT_0Q7kNvgHAay0d&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCJm3Xcm_947ZJbS7CL3kKURR4osZqJj0NyUfA8qvplQQ&oe=667EA688 | person_profile | 0 | HeartlyLove | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448207620_1511223352802579_2405985796128310699_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sW6VHHImk_0Q7kNvgG_8p1N&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCG8EeVG2jDWESC_yK99tAg5hyxTZjgP-cp00jzkHVJPQ&oe=667EA357 | 0 | 3 | โจ Elevate your skincare routine with Norvure GlowGuardโข Turmeric Cleansing Pads.<br /> <br /> ๐ฟ Infused with antioxidant-rich turmeric to remove impurities and balance skin oil and water.<br /> <br /> ๐ธ Gentle exfoliation with the microfiber side, buffing away dead skin cells for a smoother complexion.<br /> <br /> ๐ง Enjoy the convenience of single-use pads for a hassle-free skincare routine.<br /> <br /> ๐ฉโ๐ฌ Dermatologist tested and safe for all skin types, including sensitive skin.<br /> <br /> ๐ Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight! | HeartlyLove | 739 | https://facebook.com/100089641703840 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888852 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188463 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 384313057974890 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 104992632509232 | 0 | HeartlyLove | 120209492726770724 | norvure.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Solar Bug Zapper Stakes | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/solarguard%E2%84%A2-bug-zapper-ultimate-outdoor-mosquito-control | 1718170880 | 1.0499263250923E+14 | HeartlyLove | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448180937_972670187651420_2613405550554078219_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ZJYvA6VtrjcQ7kNvgGJLOnk&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqOgW6s3dzJdUttwVJcMD8siUYTPs3qSyi-Y_PeQ_bHQ&oe=667E89CB | person_profile | 0 | HeartlyLove | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441901827_454118860584249_1976730117108977001_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8TvD1ITFXlEQ7kNvgHRB6IU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAmxbgAZ0tnzsoy1FIn1mKPJMhrYdNnyuIiY645Khn_lw&oe=667E953F | 0 | 3 | ๐ Enjoy peaceful evenings in your yard with the Norvure SolarGuardโข Bug Zapper.<br /> <br /> ๐ฆ Advanced purple light waves attract and eliminate mosquitoes and flying insects instantly.<br /> <br /> ๐ Dense safety net ensures safety for children and pets.<br /> <br /> ๐ Solar-powered and eco-friendly, offering cost-effective mosquito control.<br /> <br /> ๐ง๏ธ Durable and weatherproof design for reliable performance in any outdoor setting.<br /> <br /> ๐ Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight! | HeartlyLove | 739 | https://facebook.com/100089641703840 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888854 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188463 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 386511137765643 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 110757928736038 | 0 | HappyMe's | 120209492577330724 | norvure.com | Shop now | NONE | image | Stylish Mosquito Repellent Bracelet | 40% Off Until Midnight | https://norvure.com/products/norvure-mosquitoshield%E2%84%A2-bracelet | 1718170094 | 1.1075792873604E+14 | HappyMe's | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448268081_433145392839342_4041026355839548094_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VqWAJJ1Cop8Q7kNvgGc5Phj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBB63wFTINVdSimgD3gOrEPPOrU99NU_LuL7NZOYyBGoQ&oe=667E852B | person_profile | 0 | HappyMe's | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448268397_780359293908873_4509353322040619801_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w6v3TDvdBJcQ7kNvgELIwyh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAV7HOzg5IFa60cosOSmmg8yTLD0MbwVpWuTSYzV9J8qw&oe=667E90A2 | 0 | 3 | ๐ฆ Tired of pesky mosquito bites ruining your outdoor fun?<br /> <br /> ๐ฟ Meet the Norvure MosquitoShieldโข Bracelet โ a stylish, natural solution for mosquito protection!<br /> <br /> ๐จโ๐ฉโ๐งโ๐ฆ Perfect for all ages, ensuring your family stays safe and bite-free.<br /> <br /> โป๏ธ Eco-friendly and DEET-free, packed with essential oils like mint and citronella.<br /> <br /> โ Enjoy 720 hours of protection with each replaceable core.<br /> <br /> ๐ Click Below To Get Yours 40% Off Until Midnight! | HappyMe's | 4240 | https://facebook.com/100094368992659 | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888884 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888886 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888888 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888890 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888899 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 900340618565276 | 8 | 4.8932180011543E+14 | 1716361200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 106230892147834 | 0 | Wahooly | 120208392423100620 | shopwahooly.com | Shop now | NONE | video | Free Worldwide Shipping! | โญโญโญโญโญ 5/5 Reviews! | https://shopwahooly.com/products/5-in-1-electric-cleaning-brush | 1716120107 | 1.0623089214783E+14 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445369565_754895103435413_7066811352263620264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=OUARPCsuU50Q7kNvgH_EW1u&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAP8x2Td5uKqj01kTzlghgIAkolDVJmlitgOACqZKdMhA&oe=667E824A | person_profile | 0 | Wahooly | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445355136_3621059924778770_8791879604436347797_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sUJxY89tWTIQ7kNvgEoR5mW&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAYJAS-p_GVWhmWuEglfrXpafntpTVvKUbGJHIsVyBSPg&oe=667E774D | 0 | 3 | Say goodbye to tedious scrubbing and hello to sparkling clean surfaces with our 5-in-1 Electric Cleaning Brush! ๐งผโจ | Wahooly | 71 | https://facebook.com/Wahoooly | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1716188400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888915 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1111542586591821 | 2 | 3.9518835014886E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211339460233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167732 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445370170_939571347949573_7395819333494214654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ja83kQC0H8sQ7kNvgHl7dUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDFF4QFe4fiiUy8PKma5Hh2OYTHQl-oWJ85LDVUwJnRJw&oe=667E758D | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235337_478825357922824_3831513101680749515_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xpViHHsNlV4Q7kNvgGwJagF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAzw6Vc-P8qG-evt6tHjkkO2fOfP4nbUnOoMnmaKK10ng&oe=667EA1F8 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888917 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1111542586591821 | 2 | 3.9518835014886E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211339460233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167732 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445370170_939571347949573_7395819333494214654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ja83kQC0H8sQ7kNvgHl7dUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDFF4QFe4fiiUy8PKma5Hh2OYTHQl-oWJ85LDVUwJnRJw&oe=667E758D | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235337_478825357922824_3831513101680749515_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xpViHHsNlV4Q7kNvgGwJagF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAzw6Vc-P8qG-evt6tHjkkO2fOfP4nbUnOoMnmaKK10ng&oe=667EA1F8 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888919 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1111542586591821 | 2 | 3.9518835014886E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211339460233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167732 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445370170_939571347949573_7395819333494214654_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ja83kQC0H8sQ7kNvgHl7dUZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDFF4QFe4fiiUy8PKma5Hh2OYTHQl-oWJ85LDVUwJnRJw&oe=667E758D | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235337_478825357922824_3831513101680749515_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xpViHHsNlV4Q7kNvgGwJagF&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAzw6Vc-P8qG-evt6tHjkkO2fOfP4nbUnOoMnmaKK10ng&oe=667EA1F8 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888922 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1605179996693847 | 1 | 8.2374082252888E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211357610233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167747 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447216330_1013646530491723_6471114213187782855_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KVndXj0CZdMQ7kNvgGS1gSh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK3gWCcVbm6LRvU3N0d4VOT7P4PfpzkvlzWo_R8Kgojg&oe=667E998E | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447306763_437503968996030_3535214343164963730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bBMEvrHnkDAQ7kNvgEKl6bm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAK9ptCEakPZY0zeHZvxrCwY3IVOV9_MF-V0G2T77UV1w&oe=667EA088 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888924 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 1605179996693847 | 1 | 8.2374082252888E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210211357610233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1749262542004264962 | 1717167747 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447216330_1013646530491723_6471114213187782855_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KVndXj0CZdMQ7kNvgGS1gSh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK3gWCcVbm6LRvU3N0d4VOT7P4PfpzkvlzWo_R8Kgojg&oe=667E998E | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447306763_437503968996030_3535214343164963730_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=bBMEvrHnkDAQ7kNvgEKl6bm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAK9ptCEakPZY0zeHZvxrCwY3IVOV9_MF-V0G2T77UV1w&oe=667EA088 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888926 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 2159638524434546 | 1 | 9.6143829566379E+14 | 1717484400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210212795140233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1717170198 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235329_669837955327704_2089153290860508039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e9_UME62_t0Q7kNvgGWrZVh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAHFH2w8oNP3FTzyCtNv2TUsG1GOEdM1eCPa5J3LPIX2w&oe=667E7A46 | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445417710_3306161976359767_2112175207822166929_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5g98EoIvL9AQ7kNvgF9fUUR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBltEfYMYRrxL9G7Rg4fjfeyUmy_lWYqnUcj9_ohkvZUQ&oe=667E9561 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888927 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 2159638524434546 | 1 | 9.6143829566379E+14 | 1717484400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 308744682317431 | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | 120210212795140233 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/IY6bS7-0530-EN-668636.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1717170198 | 3.0874468231743E+14 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445235329_669837955327704_2089153290860508039_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=e9_UME62_t0Q7kNvgGWrZVh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAHFH2w8oNP3FTzyCtNv2TUsG1GOEdM1eCPa5J3LPIX2w&oe=667E7A46 | person_profile | 0 | Amazing dramaapp | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445417710_3306161976359767_2112175207822166929_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5g98EoIvL9AQ7kNvgF9fUUR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBltEfYMYRrxL9G7Rg4fjfeyUmy_lWYqnUcj9_ohkvZUQ&oe=667E9561 | 0 | 3 | My Mom is a Big Shot ONLY on Drama Time.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Amazing dramaapp | 34 | https://facebook.com/61559003640620 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888931 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188465 | 1723678814 | 1026 | 416526867943445 | 1 | 7.6142898584583E+14 | 1717138800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 337782656077360 | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | 120212457540530592 | fblp.drama-time.com | Watch More | NONE | dco | Download Now๐๐๐ | https://fblp.drama-time.com/Gm09h7-0524-EN-694790.html?adid={{ad.id}}&char=1777998279593623554 | 1716974468 | 3.3778265607736E+14 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445372749_806966594400367_8328680758778900513_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=8D7aXJWO9g0Q7kNvgEUIAk_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA2pIsW6vP5nCj79FiO_wTSgW8XvXFIllXCKIv7m5PUpw&oe=667E7D5A | person_profile | 0 | Happy Drama Catching Up | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445517830_981120310045018_357273464333431315_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lWC0DYAmmxoQ7kNvgGOxOF_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDnGwdeIsH7bGBKEm51p3gjcy5-61z1RQWTDXQgkJ4vwA&oe=667E9971 | 0 | 3 | Reborn - I am the Protagonist ONLY on Miiow TV.๐ฌ Don't miss out! Watch the series you've been wanting to see. No regrets, just pure entertainment! #Must SeeTV #No Regrets #Watch Now | Happy Drama Catching Up | 22 | https://facebook.com/61559368364181 | 0 | WATCH_MORE | 1716966000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889674 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 6/28/25, 7:32 PM | 1719188553 | 1751157161 | 1026 | 830890622283235 | 1 | 9.8362293662683E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 308339885700252 | 0 | Free Luma | 120213982880300197 | freelumabracelets.com | Shop Now | NONE | dco | Positive Daily Reminders | {{product.description}} | https://freelumabracelets.com/collections/positivity-collection | 1719163754 | 3.0833988570025E+14 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448767482_1155528975569232_5867700363493256865_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jTEX7aQsu2UQ7kNvgE5nMpV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCcG-24YNa5JA6VsarpgxTdOvubmPqIM5oBSsbniqdMTA&oe=667E8880 | person_profile | 0 | Free Luma | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448734865_996780438264589_3482458461553062355_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=FBKPnfCyd9kQ7kNvgHoUtVl&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB3IFwkOZPFqva948Tsl8D7erwQBTuRgFl5kl5JLHezKw&oe=667E73A6 | 0 | 3 | "Words to live by! โค๏ธ My bracelet makes me smile everyday that I wear it. It is my constant reminder as I go about my day." - Tammy W. With countless 5-star reviews you can't go wrong with any bracelet that you pick. ๐ | Free Luma | 8725 | https://facebook.com/Freeluma | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889157 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 5/15/25, 9:24 PM | 1719188486 | 1747362275 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889881 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 7/1/25, 7:09 PM | 1719188613 | 1751414999 | 1026 | 423893220483283 | 3 | 8.2562356284277E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120216103910640151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1718288275 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448230236_1023536269201219_6581174903715799547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TDvq0YTEchYQ7kNvgGk0Ft0&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBEReiRHK9ShwRvtxeNFo1tIrbgADuyvvMOUVI88EoZDw&oe=667E7325 | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448050226_430944126570928_3053933144211948406_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xLSGsWELkIgQ7kNvgGJLPhr&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDrmLzs59-hYqFVri7IerrQ1NOS813gslClg-PZ056-Nw&oe=667EA011 | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT3FDLlaFERNnnn-99BEXo0uBV8RPi2CMNkOT-FqMmgEzzHm2D7e_27bZ935rYAUKizFcNbQ_ARzSPUDxOcJ3VHkeijSsdwVRRbQejm-9wzFFcYHyFGo5ds_9hOmDRlFm-0U3MLZmfAps8aqLt9QqzbRJxkypQ" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889894 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/17/25, 6:50 PM | 1719188613 | 1747525830 | 1026 | 312384481929799 | 3 | 1.4877936221446E+15 | 1718262000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120215999698370151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1717772290 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447893309_1013916893403866_8775064083425321630_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=vEO9EEeOA-MQ7kNvgGqfl2e&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBdfrdbM2kyaznobYW1IKTr4mgzWCdi73vC-2iDBCZhHA&oe=667E8EA4 | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447971434_1530826354495339_3068241689834158755_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9iURupalvcMQ7kNvgHQcCme&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCaH3cbLCJ0d4lZZ_mbORwnxpxOG0tVKwJWn8uYlafQvA&oe=667E9E3E | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT3QC08246hmK7PP60xmBqGxVHxSO5MYMlJ0gyXTVUTE9HLhZ5I0Kjs5S3aSKWuj7fki1Jk7XNyUg7SQ6X3p3Q_SKEer0WyyxLWhbEaxYAaM3Yxmwo6_SL3yhFksrft4bWUOCQj3aAQs2o4M2-spIjgvnm84Uw" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888882 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188464 | 1723678813 | 1026 | 992008662386709 | 1 | 1.0423655606453E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120213188629790170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718799346 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448791819_801329188771681_1239684611142513538_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Ahmq6MUb0BUQ7kNvgFp09cV&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBYym22xDKblZQT39cF55yVPz-jcCZAdXcd_MG-FCfepQ&oe=667E9173 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448559554_369757546124054_315103824600359370_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sgBM-TqS73oQ7kNvgEZAvta&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDoeMccb0HiLcq2aJPpoutYgkJadbfOO6iKKPDw5aQdpw&oe=667E8799 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889070 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678815 | 1026 | 813640966904981 | 1 | 3.7200638203822E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 214305385109285 | 0 | Delaney Worldwide | 120209559015690084 | delaneyworldwide.com | Learn More | NONE | carousel | Dependable Moving Solutions | Get in touch now! | https://www.delaneyworldwide.com/local-long-distance/ | 1715588544 | 2.1430538510928E+14 | Delaney Worldwide | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441399617_1017638039650615_5708233538021390002_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=pNeFyzm_Kk4Q7kNvgH08tA2&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCsRlZ0N2deIY6Gvq7PlPdQcVu40YwnMBJm3AMYF5SM8w&oe=667E82AF | person_profile | 0 | Delaney Worldwide Inc | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441571027_1828547217628349_2289319947431957499_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=0Ah6AH4jUwEQ7kNvgEX3I5z&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBFLE9tfTlU2CGqBj9Pz4J4LjDrhjN9Vi_u5qrBPS0WEA&oe=667E8983 | 0 | 3 | Get in touch now! | Delaney Worldwide | 2 | https://facebook.com/61557773368721 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716188400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889065 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678816 | 1026 | 960031428933388 | 1 | 9.7753446725539E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 465231436915042 | 0 | Round Hill Pines Beach Resort | 120209927926620713 | roundhillpinesresort.com | Learn more | NONE | image | Purely Lake Tahoe | Free parking after 5pm | https://www.roundhillpinesresort.com/ | 1716313112 | 4.6523143691504E+14 | Round Hill Pines Beach Resort | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442372518_7500106513408497_181182159695703350_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GrMH6eiaJBUQ7kNvgF9WNE2&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAcCMvsUrTuTuluRYzV0ymVRva6JKfaGd7J7GHXfQP0Pg&oe=667E7EE6 | person_profile | 0 | Round Hill Pines Beach Resort | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/442471244_960745662418080_2551407165487156537_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qlQ0MjmouFkQ7kNvgGigFuG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCOkiR23md3f1FlW3L6hYxXbszvxQnNprub2vEbkyT0JA&oe=667E80D6 | 0 | 3 | Casual lakeside dining with an elevated menu on Tahoeโs best sunset beach. Free parking after 5pm. | Round Hill Pines Beach Resort | 6722 | https://facebook.com/roundhillpines | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716620400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889256 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188495 | 1723678818 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889346 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188506 | 1723678819 | 1026 | 1828612057649255 | 1 | 9.7304891769959E+14 | 1718348400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718175600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889378 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188512 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889382 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889413 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678820 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889886 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188613 | 1723678821 | 1026 | 1231837204848570 | 1 | 4.4314837866349E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 184546378248086 | 0 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | 6593462539540 | learn.goodguyscontracting.com | Get Quote | NONE | carousel | Free Quote Within 24 Hours | http://www.goodguyscontracting.com/ | 1718031416 | 1.8454637824809E+14 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448018991_7668389939915003_5115888738860964365_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YbPH-H5vDSYQ7kNvgHbrBnf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBC0-r7wtktpo73MG2-JdrYB8rL-EfGInoxqXlWUSMsEg&oe=667EA059 | person_profile | 0 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448017290_981115470375807_5496708855715560003_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=TZLpZcyDVocQ7kNvgE1ipu_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBV75VmYAhrV6rGBykprWHZjqdjiC-Kc4zmCtLww-CaQg&oe=667EA84C | 0 | 3 | Good Guys Contracting Corp. | 675 | https://facebook.com/GoodGuysContracting | 0 | GET_QUOTE | 1718002800 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889585 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188539 | 1723678822 | 1026 | 3948901685343816 | 1 | 1.6555134351786E+15 | 1718953200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120210831282940694 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12010&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718449152 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448474492_477425897990902_5859099645181633260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=94KsICieoIIQ7kNvgHj8G9C&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCGxauaLE26bV8qKOejW0NELv3ujOlRSwZ0jeaP4Wihug&oe=667E8790 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448291144_1520610988804465_6910910276593027007_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=r_ZPDlRpsM0Q7kNvgEqRCpn&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCK5cQdMZukDF7-6GST0kZTuh9Gey6MDFQ_Ty2tHS-8TA&oe=667EA428 | 0 | 3 | I know an Omega and an alpha became best friends, which is weird. Especially, he still comes to visit my bed every morning. "Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718780400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889602 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188543 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 216463318195471 | 1 | 3.5079396395983E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1475434976107462 | 0 | Weiss Property Management | 120207717711510579 | weisspm.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Expertise You Can Trust | Enhance your curb appeal | https://weisspm.com/lawn-mowing-and-landscaping/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sr_transform_your_property_with_weiss_property &utm_term={{ad.id}}&utm_content=4656879-e32-n-m-c{{campaign.id}}-g{{adset.id}}-a{{ad.id}}-u-cat-k-mod | 1710771508 | 1.4754349761075E+15 | Weiss Property Management | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/433883042_3571553513062526_408461915678430278_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Dxql0CCMcv4Q7kNvgGGOtn-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC1PI8_suJq7yM2kclMAZJHWDQ2NOBs5lmWBriaKWUJUQ&oe=667EA3C7 | person_profile | 0 | 0 | 3 | Enhance your curb appeal | Weiss Property Management | 811 | https://facebook.com/weisspm1 | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1710831600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889641 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188550 | 1723678823 | 1026 | 419884320825184 | 2 | 9.8322917290411E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120211247750980002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715251588 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440431022_1166780181174166_1449615004424045769_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=9kYnj4-PBdAQ7kNvgE-wHR7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB_W0bKW1HKVGp5jgCxFGMsKn9Fzy9IIOFAg80qftsdCQ&oe=667E7D37 | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440326607_1101917951061451_218003203580443970_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NoUITu0fL4oQ7kNvgGzml1G&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAlbM2_RSTwK5Ksg7JDfhaDD8zaI0dt0uYgBcB96hHnIg&oe=667E7D36 | 0 | 3 | Felix White was my childhood sweetheart. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I liked him a lot and he treated me well. I had thought he'd be happy to marry me. But I was wrong... At a gathering, there was another lively discussion about my future marriage to Felix. Aunt Mel, Felix's mother exclaimed. "How time flies! A couple more years, Lulu'll be my daughter-in-law!" I felt sweet inside and stole a glance at Felix, but he didn't look happy. "You're right! Maybe when they graduate, we'll have our grandchildren." Mom chimed in. "Mom...Aunt Mel...I'm only 18." I protested. Talking about the child made me feel embarrassed. As usual, my little protest didn't work. They were still talking feverishly. I didn't want to waste my breath, but Felix suddenly stood up. Fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. He glared at me and spat, "It's all your fault. Stop shamelessly following me everywhere!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I don't like her!" He yelled. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. Dad clenched his fists and Mom also looked angry. Seeing that, Uncle Austin, Felix's father shouted at Felix, "Brat, apologize!" "I am not wrong!" Felix threw down his cutlery and started to leave. In a rage, Uncle Austin grabbed Felix by the collar and slapped him. Felix slumped to the ground in pain, leaving a streak of blood on the floor. He shot me a scathing glare. "Are you happy now, Luna?" Why would I be happy? I was not the one to blame for this mess! If he didn't like me he should have rejected me earlier instead of accusing me of shamelessly clinging to him! I was not shameless. I just thought we loved each other. "Felix, listen to me, I just likeโ" I tried to explain. "But I don't need your LIKE!" Felix interrupted me with a look of disgust. I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. If loving him was the reason why he humiliated me, then I would gladly change! I gritted my teeth. "I, Luna Lawson, swear that I will NEVER bother you again." | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715238000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889739 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188566 | 1723678824 | 1026 | 1493095901562766 | 1 | 2.937409771013E+14 | 1713337200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120208581582510653 | werarts.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | SIGUE LEYENDO | https://werarts.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10839&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1713162685 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438170269_1182020586300662_7038971858175890584_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=F_yqyWoWsdQQ7kNvgGpdVYU&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBIGF6dVb3jMfaEEwgqTgnW8j-Mw1iudCLTQnEGH4avVQ&oe=667E87E4 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438078399_1880991625655362_3371924047159049792_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=UMtGxZCGL6AQ7kNvgHtscNf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBhQIhaRGo0FajfLE7TbI4jsrooXsB6goJ9Vxzh_uxa6A&oe=667E8347 | 0 | 3 | PREFACIO โ ยกTe odio! โยฟQuรฉ acabas de decir? โEl hombre mirรณ a la mujer y en sus ojos azules se desatรณ una tormenta. Pero ella no se inmutรณ y se mantuvo firme, alzรณ la barbilla demostrรกndole que ya no era esa chiquilla tonta e ingenua. โLo que escuchaste. Si hubieras sabido quiรฉn eras en realidad, jamรกsโฆ โsus ojos verdes se clavaron en el hombre โ jamรกs me hubiera entregado a ti. Las palabras de la mujer eran como gasolina al fuego y los pensamientos de Santino fueron en todas las direcciones, la sola idea de que ella pudiera pertenecer a alguien mรกs hacรญa que sus demonios afloraran. Lo hacรญan querer acabar con cualquiera que se atreviera a posar sus ojos en ella. Sonriรณ y luego llevรณ sus manos a los botones de su camisa, y el corazรณn de Sophia se agitรณ. No habรญa nada que hacer; ella lo deseaba, aunque le hubiera mentido, le hubiera vendido la fachada de alguien que no era, su corazรณn, asรญ como su cuerpo le pertenecรญan. Santino caminรณ lentamente hacia ella al momento que se quitaba la camisa y su poderoso pecho cubierto de tatuajes quedรณ al descubierto. Ella tragรณ saliva, sintiendo cรณmo su centro despertaba por รฉl, su cuerpo traidor se rendรญa ante el toque de su marido. โยฟQuรฉโฆ quรฉ vas a hacer? โpreguntรณ nerviosa. Santino se detuvo lo suficientemente cerca como para que sus alientos se mezclaran, sus dedos รกsperos acariciaron su mejilla y ella tuvo el instinto de cerrar los ojos y dejarse llevar. โRecordarteโฆ โsusurrรณ al oรญdo de la mujerโ recordarte a quiรฉn pertenecesโฆ SOLO ERES UNA MUJER HUMILDE UN AรO ANTESโฆ โ ยกNo voy a casarme! ยกNo! ยกDe ninguna manera! โSophia se mantuvo firme, su mirada ardรญa con una mezcla de miedo y desafรญo. Norma, su tรญa, la mirรณ con sus ojos inyectados en sangre por la furia, se levantรณ de su silla y caminรณ alrededor del escritorio con pasos medidos que resonaban en el lujoso estudio. โ ยฟCรณmo dices? โpreguntรณ, aunque mรกs parecรญa una demanda que una pregunta. โLo que escuchaste, tรญa. No voy a casarme solo porque tรบ no quieres sacrificar a tu hija โreplicรณ Sophia, su voz era temblorosa, pero llena de valentรญa. La ira de Norma estallรณ como un volcรกn; su mano se alzรณ y abofeteรณ a Sophia con una fuerza que la hizo tambalearse. โEscรบchame bien โgruรฑรณ, para luego agarrar el cabello de Sophia con tanta fuerza que las puntas de sus dedos se volvieron blancas. โHas sido una carga en esta casa, una molestia, y si digo que te casas, ยกte casas! Sophia, con el rostro enrojecido por la bofetada y los ojos acuosos no por el dolor, sino por el coraje, se negรณ a ceder. โNo โdijo con determinaciรณn, su voz apenas un susurro, pero firme. โNo voy a casarme. Norma Sanz la odiaba, sรญ, odiaba a Sophia con cada fibra de su ser, no solo porque era la hija de su hermana, sino porque representaba todo lo que habรญa despreciado en su vida. La รบnica razรณn por la cual habรญa aceptado a Sophia bajo su techo era la herencia que el padre desconocido habรญa dejado; algo que le permitirรญa vivir en comodidad el resto de sus dรญas. โBien โdijo Norma con un tono helado, soltando a Sophia con tal brusquedad que la joven cayรณ hacia atrรกs, golpeรกndose la cabeza contra la mesa frente al sofรก. โEncontrarรฉ la manera de doblegarte. De alguna manera u otra conseguirรฉ mis propรณsitos, Sophia. No lo olvides โla amenazรณ con un susurro venenoso โno eres nadie frente a mรญ. Sophia, desde el suelo, levantรณ la vista hacia la mujer que habรญa hecho de su vida un infierno. Recordรณ las noches oscuras en el รกtico y el hambre a la que habรญa sido sometida. Muchos se preguntarรญan por quรฉ soportรณ tanto. La respuesta era simple: su madre. Su tรญa habรญa pagado los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre enferma y eso la ataba a esta casa y a esta mujer cruel. Pero en su corazรณn, Sophia sabรญa que algรบn dรญa encontrarรญa la forma de liberarse. Norma le dio una sonrisa antes de inclinarse hacia ella, sus ojos tan verdes como los de la joven brillaban con un desdรฉn y un odio puro. โEres igual a ella โescupiรณ con desprecio, y su zapato de tacรณn presionรณ con fuerza la mano de Sophia. โ ยกAhhh! โexclamo Sophia, el dolor irradiando desde su mano aplastada. Pero incluso en medio del tormento, se negรณ a mostrar su debilidad. โTu madre fue una desgracia para nuestra familia, y tรบ solo eres una mujer humilde, y, aun asรญ, ยฟte crees con derecho a negarte? โcontinuรณ Norma, cada palabra como una daga envenenada destinada a herir. Sophia levantรณ sus ojos hacia su tรญa. A pesar de que las palabras le dolรญan profundamente, su mirada era desafiante, inquebrantable. โYa te dije, no me casarรฉ โreiterรณ con una voz que, aunque rasgada por la emociรณn, no mostraba rastro de duda. Norma sonriรณ con mรกs frialdad, un gesto que no llegaba a sus ojos. Asintiรณ lentamente, como si reconociera el desafรญo de Sophia y lo aceptara. Luego, sin mรกs palabras, retrocediรณ y se dirigiรณ hacia la salida del estudio, su silueta imponente recortada contra la luz que se filtraba por la puerta. โEso lo veremos, querida sobrina โdijo sin girarse, su voz flotando en el aire con la certeza de una amenaza. โEso lo veremos. Sophia permaneciรณ en el suelo y su cuerpo temblaba con la adrenalina del enfrentamiento. Mientras escuchaba los pasos de su tรญa, desvanecerse, sabรญa que este era solo el comienzo de su lucha. Pero estaba decidida; esta era su vida y serรญa ella quien decidirรญa su destino, no importaba lo que su cruel tรญa intentara hacer para controlarla. Sophia regresรณ a su habitaciรณn y en ese momento sonรณ su celular, se trataba de Jenna, su mejor amiga. โJannaโฆ โSophia, ยฟacaso lo olvidaste? โ ยฟOlvidar quรฉ? โHoy es mi cambio de departamento, quedaste en venir y ayudar. Sophia suspirรณ, de hecho, lo habรญa olvidado, los รบltimos dรญas habรญa estado enfocada en buscar un trabajo, querรญa ser independiente y conseguir un trabajo estable que pagara los gastos mรฉdicos de su madre y poder finalmente escapar del infierno en el que vivรญa. โBien, estarรฉ allรญ en media hora. โOk, date prisa, luego iremos con los chicos al cafรฉ. La llamada se cortรณ con la risa contagiosa de Jana, se habรญan conocido en una de las clases de la universidad y desde entonces se habรญan vuelto mejores amigas. Sophia tomรณ su bolso y se fue a toda prisa. Cuando la puerta principal de la mansiรณn se cerrรณ, Norma saliรณ del estudio mirando hacia la puerta por donde acababa de salir Sophia. โMamรก, ยกยฟquรฉ vas a hacer?! โpreguntรณ Serena, la hija biolรณgica de Norma. De hecho, Serena y Sophia se parecรญan mucho, todo se debรญa a que Norma y la madre de Sophia Natalie eran gemelas. โConseguirรฉ la manera cariรฑo, no te preocupes โ mirรณ a su hija y sonriรณ โno dejarรฉ que arruines tu vida con un monstruo y lisiado. Ella no iba a permitir que su hija arruinara su vida junto a un hombre que estaba condenado a una silla de ruedas. TE COMPRE UNA ESPOSA โLos envรญos estรกn listos. โdijo Andrรฉ, el mejor amigo y mano derecha de Santino. Santino Dโ Luca, sentado en su silla de ruedas, asintiรณ levemente. Sus ojos azules, normalmente llenos de una intensidad ardiente, parecรญan distantes, perdidos en pensamientos mรกs allรก de los negocios. โLos mexicanos estarรกn contentos con la mercancรญa. โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ, una sonrisa sutil asomando en su rostroโNos han hecho el pago adelantado. Este serรก el primero de muchos negocios. Hubo un silencio. Andrรฉ observรณ cรณmo su jefe procesaba la informaciรณn, esperando una reacciรณn que confirmara su presencia en el momento. Pero Santino estaba en otro lugar, su mente atormentada por recuerdos y preguntas sin respuesta. โSantinoโฆ ยฟSantino, estรกs escuchando? โpreguntรณ Andrรฉ, su tono ahora teรฑido de preocupaciรณn. El hombre parpadeรณ, volviendo al presente con un suspiro casi imperceptible. โSรญ. โrespondiรณ con voz ronca, como si cada palabra le costara. โDijiste que los mexicanos pagaron el envรญo y que haremos mรกs negocios. Andrรฉ lo mirรณ fijamente, una ceja arqueada en expresiรณn de duda. โEso lo dije hace rato. Te estaba diciendo que todos estรกn preguntando por ti. No puedo seguir excusรกndote y dar la cara todo el tiempo. En algรบn momento tendrรกs que volver al frente. Ademรกs, en la empresa los accionistas estรกn tensos. Ya sabes cรณmo son. Una mueca cruzรณ el rostro de Santino. Desde su salida del hospital, seis meses atrรกs, se habรญa recluido entre las paredes de su mansiรณn, negรกndose a enfrentar el mundo exterior. No se sentรญa listo aรบn, preferรญa mantener esa fachada de hombre desvalido y amargado. Pero no era solo una fachada; la amargura era real. El accidente habรญa descubierto la verdadera naturaleza de aquellos que lo rodeaban, una realidad que no podรญa ni querรญa olvidar. โLo harรฉ, Andrรฉ, pero no todavรญa. โdijo Santino con una voz que, aunque tranquila, llevaba el peso de una decisiรณn irrevocable. โNecesito seguir manteniรฉndome lejos, dejar que el responsable tome confianza y muestre su rostro. Andrรฉ suspirรณ, su expresiรณn era un lienzo de frustraciรณn y lealtad. โ ยฟQuรฉ ha pasado con las investigaciones? โpreguntรณ, buscando alguna esperanza. โAรบn nada. โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, su tono endureciรฉndose. โLos vรญdeos del taller donde estaba el auto fueron borrados y los empleados afirman no saber nada. Pero es un hecho que el auto fue manipulado. No fallaron los frenos por nada, Santino. El hombre en la silla de ruedas apretรณ los dedos con tanta fuerza que sus nudillos se volvieron blancos. Sus ojos se oscurecieron, reflejando una sed de venganza que no necesitaba palabras. โSigue investigando. โordenรณ. โMientras tanto, yo seguirรฉ con mi fachada. No me conviene que sepan la verdad. Andrรฉ se inclinรณ hacia delante y preguntรณ en voz baja. โ ยฟNi siquiera tu madre? โNo. โcontestรณ con una firmeza que no dejaba lugar a dudas. โNi siquiera ella. โ ยฟEstรกs pensando queโฆ? โAndrรฉ comenzรณ a decir antes de ser interrumpido. โNo seas imbรฉcil. โlo regaรฑรณ. โPor supuesto que no dudo de mi madre, pero si llegase a saber la verdad, no podrรญa mantenerlo en secreto. Ya la conoces. Andrรฉ tenรญa que reconocer que Santino tenรญa razรณn. Justo cuando iba a verbalizar su acuerdo, la puerta del estudio se abriรณ con un movimiento suave pero decidido. La figura de una mujer elegante y con una presencia que llenaba la habitaciรณn se delineรณ en el umbral. Era ella, la madre de Santino tenรญa un porte digno y una mirada que parecรญa atravesar las paredes que su hijo habรญa levantado a su alrededor. โMadre. โdijo Santino, maniobrando su silla de ruedas para acercarse a ella. Grecia Dโ Luca, con su elegancia innata a sus cincuenta aรฑos, no podรญa evitar la preocupaciรณn que sentรญa por su hijo, aunque รฉl ya fuera un hombre hecho y derecho. โCariรฑo, te perdiste el desayuno y vas por el mismo camino con el almuerzo. Tienes que alimentarte. โ expresรณ, inclinรกndose para dejar un beso en la frente de su hijo. Andrรฉ, observando la escena desde su lugar, sonriรณ ante el intercambio. La calidez maternal siempre tenรญa un efecto en รฉl, un recordatorio de la humanidad que aรบn residรญa en los rincones de aquel negocio endurecido. โMamรก. โgruรฑรณ Santino, con una mezcla de afecto y molestia. โNo tengo hambre y ademรกs estoy en un asunto importante con Andrรฉ. Comerรฉ mรกs tarde. โNo. โreplicรณ ella con seriedad. โComerรกs ahora. โSe irguiรณ y sus ojos se tornaron solemnes, lo que captรณ inmediatamente la atenciรณn de su hijo. โ ยฟQuรฉ pasa? โpreguntรณ รฉl, percibiendo la gravedad del asunto. โPrimero come yโฆ โMadre, no tengo tiempo. Ve al grano y dime quรฉ pasa. โla interrumpiรณ Santino con impaciencia. Grecia a veces no soportaba el temperamento de su hijo. Antes del accidente que se llevรณ a su marido y dejรณ a su hijo confinado a una silla de ruedas, รฉl era amable, dulce y sonriente. Ahora, se habรญa vuelto amargado y frรญo, y ni siquiera ella era inmune a su nueva personalidad. โBien, entonces serรฉ directa. โdijo con firmeza, mirando fijamente a los ojos verdes de su hijo, un reflejo de los suyos propios. โHe organizado una boda. Las cejas de Santino se fruncieron, un mal presagio creciรณ en su interior. โTu abuelo te ha comprado una novia. Santino tardรณ un momento en procesar la noticia, era como si las palabras de su madre fueran un idioma extranjero que luchaba por entender. Cuando las piezas finalmente encajaron, su respuesta fue visceral. โ ยกยฟTe volviste loca?! ยกยฟPerdiste la cabeza, Grecia?! โexclamรณ con una mezcla de incredulidad y enfado. โ ยกModela tu lenguaje, jovencito! โle regaรฑรณ Grecia, imperturbable ante el estallido de su hijo. โTendrรกs 30 aรฑos, pero sigo siendo tu madre, Santino, y no me vas a hablar en ese tono. El hombre apretรณ los dientes y tomรณ un par de respiraciones profundas, intentando recuperar el control. โMadre, no necesito una esposa. โgruรฑรณ. โEstoy bien como estoy. ยฟQuรฉ te hace pensar que quiero a una mujer incordiando todo el dรญa? โ ยฟNo la necesitas? ยฟEstรกs seguro? โpreguntรณ Grecia, su voz era un manto de preocupaciรณn maternal. โHijo, tรบ no ves lo que yo veo. Te estรกs consumiendo en tu propio dolor. Has dejado tu vida de lado, ya no sales, te la pasas amargado, no recibes a nadie. Y apenas tienes 30 aรฑos. El hecho de que estรฉs en una silla de ruedas no significa queโฆ La risa burlona de Santino interrumpiรณ el discurso de su madre, llenando el estudio con su amargura. โMadre, de verdad que eres รบnica, โdijo con un tono que rozaba la condescendencia. โSoy tu hijo y siempre me verรกs con ojos de amor, peroโฆ ยฟNo me ves? โpreguntรณ, y sus ojos se oscurecieron aรบn mรกs detrรกs de la mรกscara. Sรญ, Santino usaba una mรกscara para ocultar su rostro quemado. El accidente le habรญa arrebatado mรกs que la movilidad de sus piernas; tambiรฉn habรญa desfigurado su cara, por lo que llevaba una mรกscara que cubrรญa la mayor parte de su rostro, dejando solo su boca a la vista. Grecia mirรณ a su hijo con un dolor que solo una madre puede sentir. A sus ojos, Santino era perfecto tal como era, y su corazรณn se desgarraba cada vez que veรญa lo que se habรญa convertido. Ella habรญa estado de acuerdo con su suegro con la esperanza de que una compaรฑera pudiera hacerle compaรฑรญa y, con suerte, descongelar su corazรณn helado. โYa estรก decidido, Santino, โdijo Grecia con decisiรณn. โTendrรกs una esposa, yo quiero nietos, quiero alegrรญa en esta casa, y, ademรกs, quiero que vuelvas a sonreรญr. El hombre en la silla de ruedas se conmoviรณ por las palabras de su madre, de verdad no querรญa herirla, pero decirle la verdad no era posible en ese momento, asรญ que tenรญa que seguir con su personaje. โPues me niego. โreplicรณ. โsi traes a esa mujer aquรญ, le voy a hacer la vida imposible, madre. โsentencio โtanto que no durarรก unas horas, no quiero, ni necesito una esposa. Ademรกs โpregunto burlรณn. โ ยฟquiรฉn se casarรญa con un lisiado y un monstruo? SIN CORAZรN โSanto cielo, Sophia, ยกestรกs muy caliente! โexclamรณ, Janna, su voz teรฑida de ansiedad mientras tocaba la frente de su amiga, buscando confirmar sus sospechas. Sophia intentรณ ofrecer una sonrisa tranquilizadora, aunque pรกlida y dรฉbil. โNo te preocupes, estoy bien, solo es un resfriado โrespondiรณ con una voz que pretendรญa ser firme, pero que no lograba ocultar el leve temblor provocado por la fiebre. Janna frunciรณ el ceรฑo aรบn mรกs preocupada. โPero eres asmรกtica yโฆ โHizo una pausa, sopesando sus palabras antes de continuar con determinaciรณn. โ ยฟSabes quรฉ? Vayamos al hospital. La reacciรณn de Sophia fue inmediata, levantando una mano en seรฑal de detenciรณn. โNo โdijo con firmeza, aunque su voz se suavizรณ al explicar su situaciรณn. โEstoy bien, de verdad, ademรกsโฆ no tengo dinero para pagarlo. Su expresiรณn se tornรณ triste al recordar la dependencia financiera de su tรญa, ella era quien administraba su herencia y apenas le proporcionaba lo justo para sus gastos universitarios y algunas medicinas para su madre. Janna, mostrando una mezcla de frustraciรณn y compasiรณn, se apresurรณ a ofrecer una soluciรณn. โPuedo pagarlo por ti, tengo algo ahorradoโฆ Sophia sacudiรณ la cabeza, rechazando la generosidad de su amiga. โNo, Janna, sรฉ que eso es para tu sueรฑo de abrir tu propia cafeterรญa. โlanzรณ una sonrisa triste mientras agregaba โVoy a estar bien, lo prometo. Su determinaciรณn era fรฉrrea, aunque no podรญa ocultar completamente su vulnerabilidad. Janna suspirรณ, reconociendo la obstinaciรณn de su amiga. โEstรก bien, pero me llamas en cuanto llegues, ยฟvale? โOk โrespondiรณ Sophia, acercรกndose para envolver a Janna en un abrazo leve, pero lleno de gratitud y afecto. Lo que ninguna de las dos sabรญa era que esto le estaba dando la oportunidad perfecta a la tรญa de Sophia para avanzar con sus planes ocultos. * โSeรฑora, la niรฑa Sophia, estรก ardiendo en fiebre โexpresรณ la empleada con preocupaciรณn, interrumpiendo el tranquilo momento de Norma mientras tomaba su tรฉ de la tarde. La menciรณn de la fiebre de Sophia hizo que Norma alzara una ceja, un gesto que mostraba su personalidad frรญa y calculadora. โ ยฟFiebre dices? โpreguntรณ Norma, su tono impregnado de indiferencia. โSรญ, seรฑora, desde que llegรณ se veรญa mal. Creo que debemos llamar al mรฉdico o llevarla al hospital โinsistiรณ la empleada, esperando provocar algรบn atisbo de compasiรณn en su ama. Pero Norma respondiรณ con una determinaciรณn helada, poniรฉndose de pie y dirigiendo una mirada amenazante hacia la empleada. โNadie va a llamar a nadie y no iremos a ningรบn hospital โdeclarรณ โMejor llama un taxi. โ ยฟUn taxi? Pero seรฑora, ellaโฆ โLa empleada intentรณ protestar, preocupada por la salud de Sophia, pero fue interrumpida bruscamente. โ ยฟTe pago para que hagas preguntas? ยฟO es que quieres ser echada a la calle? Te recuerdo que tienes un mocoso que alimentar โamenazรณ Norma. La empleada bajรณ la cabeza con impotencia, consciente de que su situaciรณn econรณmica y familiar la hacรญa vulnerable a las humillaciones de la mujer. โLo siento, seรฑora โmurmurรณ, resignada a seguir las รณrdenes. โBien, ahora ve a hacer lo que te ordenรฉ โexigiรณ Norma con frialdad. Una vez sola, se dirigiรณ hacia la habitaciรณn de Sophia, ubicada en el รกrea de servicio. Era un viejo depรณsito con filtraciones, reflejaba el desdรฉn con el que Norma trataba a su sobrina. Al entrar, sus ojos se clavaron en la figura dรฉbil de Sophia, y el odio que sentรญa por ella burbujeรณ en su interior. โDebiste haber muerto, apenas abriste tus ojos, Sophia. Pero no, sobreviviste y te quedaste para torturarme una y otra vez โsusurrรณ con veneno en su voz. โPero yo voy a condenarte, a hacer tu vida, un infierno mรกs de lo que ya es. Norma se acercรณ lentamente a Sophia, su paso era medido, casi como si disfrutara del dramatismo del momento. Con un gesto que parecรญa mรกs una formalidad que una verdadera preocupaciรณn, tocรณ la frente de Sophia. Estaba demasiado caliente, una fiebre lo suficientemente alta como para mantener a Sophia en un estado de inconsciencia. La gravedad de su estado era evidente, pero la preocupaciรณn parecรญa estar ausente en los ojos de la mujer. โSeรฑora, el taxi estรก esperando โinformรณ la empleada desde la puerta, sus ojos cargados de lรกstima al mirar a la joven acostada en el catre. A pesar de la urgencia, su tono era resignado, como si ya conociera la respuesta a cualquier pregunta que pudiera surgir sobre el bienestar de Sophia. โBien, ve por Tomรกs โordenรณ Norma sin mirar a la empleada. La mujer esta vez no preguntรณ, se dio la vuelta y poco despuรฉs regresรณ con Tomรกs, el jardinero, un hombre de aspecto robusto cuya expresiรณn reflejaba una mezcla de confusiรณn y preocupaciรณn. Sin embargo, sabรญa que no era su lugar cuestionar las รณrdenes de la seรฑora de la casa. Asรญ que, por orden de Norma, cargรณ en sus brazos a Sophia con cuidado y la metiรณ en el taxi. A pesar de su apariencia ruda, sus movimientos eran gentiles, tratando de perturbar lo menos posible a la joven enferma. Luego, siguiendo las instrucciones precisas de la seรฑora de la casa, pagรณ al taxista el doble de la tarifa habitual y le dio la direcciรณn que ella le habรญa ordenado. Mientras el taxi se alejaba, la expresiรณn en el rostro de Norma era indescifrable. ยฟEra satisfacciรณn? ยฟIndiferencia? Solo ella sabรญa cuรกl era el destino final de Sophia y quรฉ esperaba lograr con esto. Cuando el taxi se detuvo delante de las grandes puertas negras, la opulencia de la mansiรณn detrรกs de ellas era evidente incluso desde la distancia. Un guardia de seguridad se acercรณ rรกpidamente al vehรญculo, su mirada inquisitiva dejaba claro que no cualquier visitante era bienvenido. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres? โpreguntรณ el guardia, su voz profunda y autoritaria. El taxista, al ver el aspecto intimidante del hombre y de los muros que protegรญan la propiedad, tragรณ saliva nerviosamente antes de responder. โYo solo cumplo รณrdenes, me dijeron que la trajera aquรญ โexplicรณ, intentando mantener la calma. Su mirada se desviรณ hacia el espejo retrovisor, donde podรญa ver a Sophia aรบn desmayada en el asiento trasero. Uno de los guardias de seguridad se asomรณ al interior del taxi y, al ver a Sophia en ese estado, no pudo evitar preocuparse. Hablรณ brevemente por su micrรณfono, y despuรฉs de unos minutos de espera que parecieron eternos para el taxista, abriรณ la puerta trasera del vehรญculo. Y con una mezcla de eficiencia y cuidado, el guardia cargรณ en brazos a Sophia y se dirigiรณ hacia la gran casa, mientras tanto, el taxista, aliviado de haber cumplido su tarea y ansioso por alejarse de ese lugar tan intimidante, se apresurรณ a irse tan rรกpido como pudo. La mansiรณn, con sus puertas ahora cerrรกndose lentamente detrรกs del guardia y Sophia, escondรญa los secretos y las decisiones que aguardaban dentro. NO QUIERO QUE MUERA EN MI CASA Cuando Sophia abriรณ los ojos, su frente se arrugรณ cuando vio la extraรฑa habitaciรณn. Se levantรณ lentamente y mirรณ a su alrededor solo para encontrarse con una anciana de aspecto dulce. โQuรฉ bueno que despertรณ, seรฑora โdijo la mujer acercรกndose. Sophia frunciรณ mรกs las cejas y repitiรณ. โ ยฟSeรฑora? Yoโฆ ยฟDรณnde estoy? โNo se levante todavรญa, pasรณ una mala noche y el mรฉdico dijo que debรญa descansar. โdijo la mujer instรกndola a acostarse. โNoโฆ yoโฆ quiero saber dรณnde estoy. El corazรณn de Sophia latรญa a toda velocidad y un nudo se formรณ en su estรณmago. โQuiero irme, esta no es mi casa. Saliรณ de la cama tambaleรกndose y la empleada se apresurรณ a ayudarla. โSeรฑoraโฆ no es bueno queโฆ โ ยกNo me llames, seรฑora! โSophia dijo demasiado alto โNo soy ninguna seรฑora. Esta no es mi casa y exijo saber por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. Yoโฆ โse llevรณ una mano a la cabeza para calmar el dolor. โSeรฑora, usted no puede irse, el joven Santino ya sabe que estรก aquรญ y ordenรณ que le prepararan el desayuno. โ ยฟSantino? โmiro a la mujer ahora con mรกs confusiรณn โ ยฟQuiรฉn rayos es Santino? ยฟY quiรฉn dice que voy a comer con รฉl? En otra habitaciรณn de la mansiรณn, el ambiente era completamente distinto. Andrรฉ, con una expresiรณn seria, le entregรณ un iPad a Santino, quien esperaba con impaciencia. La pantalla mostraba la informaciรณn detallada de la mujer que en ese momento enfrentaba un confuso despertar en su casa. โEso fue todo lo que encontrรฉ sobre Serena Michel. Es hija de Tom Michel y Norma Sanz. รl tiene una empresa en el ramo automotriz y no va muy bien; asรญ que hizo algunos prรฉstamos โexplicรณ Andrรฉ, mientras Santino examinaba la imagen de la chica en el dispositivo. รl observรณ detenidamente la foto. Serena Michel no era fea, pero tampoco habรญa algo en ella que la hiciera destacar a primera vista; se podrรญa considerar alguien simple. โ ยฟNos deben dinero? โpreguntรณ, aunque ya conocรญa la respuesta. โSรญ, es por eso, que tu abuelo organizรณ esta boda. Lo dejarรก libre de deudas si la chica se casa contigo โrespondiรณ Andrรฉ, sabiendo que esta noticia no serรญa del agrado de su amigo. Santino soltรณ un bufido sarcรกstico. โMi abuelo a veces es un poco entrometido. Cree que no puedo liderar la empresa y la organizaciรณn solo. Andrรฉ tomรณ asiento frente a su amigo, mirรกndolo con seriedad. โTal vez tenga razรณn, Santino. Tal vez es tiempo de que tomes una esposa. Es bueno para ti en todos los aspectos, ademรกs debes dejar ir aโฆ La mirada de advertencia de Santino lo hizo callar de inmediato. Siempre que mencionaba a esa persona, se ponรญa de mal humor. โNo lo hago por ella โdijo con voz firme y decidida. โLa verdad es que no necesito una esposa. Eso solo significarรญa debilidad, y tรบ y yo sabemos que en este negocio los dรฉbiles caen. Yโฆ โSus ojos se entrecerraron, dejando entrever una determinaciรณn feroz. โNo quiero distracciones para cazar al culpable. โSรญ, claro. Crรฉete eso tรบ mismo, pero a mรญ no me engaรฑas. El รบnico motivo por el que no quieres comprometerte es porque aรบn sigues amando a Kiara โAndrรฉ dijo con una mezcla de comprensiรณn y desafรญo. La tensiรณn en la habitaciรณn creciรณ. A pesar de las complicadas circunstancias que rodeaban el acuerdo matrimonial con Serena, era evidente que el corazรณn de Santino aรบn pertenecรญa a alguien mรกs. La menciรณn de ese nombre hizo que Santino regresara al pasado, a una รฉpoca en la que la inocencia aรบn formaba parte de su vida. Kiara Ferrara, la hija de un socio de su padre, habรญa sido su compaรฑera desde la infancia. Crecieron juntos, compartiendo juegos, sueรฑos y, eventualmente, un amor juvenil que parecรญa destinado a florecer con el tiempo. Pero cuando la traiciรณn por parte del padre de Kiara se descubriรณ, afectando profundamente los negocios y la confianza entre las familias, su padre se opuso fรฉrreamente a que ambos continuaran su relaciรณn. A pesar de las advertencias y los obstรกculos, Santino se impuso, creyendo en el amor que pensaba que compartรญan. Sin embargo, la realidad era mucho mรกs amarga de lo que jamรกs podrรญa haber imaginado. Kiara no era la mujer que รฉl creรญa amar; en realidad, habรญa sido nada mรกs que un peรณn en manos de alguien que nunca lo habรญa amado de verdad. Kiara habรญa estado engaรฑรกndolo con su primo Damiano, una traiciรณn que destrozรณ el corazรณn de Santino y fracturรณ su capacidad de confiar nuevamente. Cuando descubriรณ la traiciรณn de Kiara, la confrontaciรณn fue inevitable. Las palabras se tornaron en gritos, los gritos en acusaciones, hasta que el destino intervino de la manera mรกs trรกgica. Kiara terminรณ muerta en un accidente esa misma noche, una conclusiรณn abrupta y fatal a su historia. Y aunque sabรญa que era una traidora, Santino no pudo evitar sentir un profundo dolor y culpa por lo sucedido. Desde ese momento, se jurรณ a sรญ mismo que nunca mรกs volverรญa a confiar en una mujer. โSantino, ยฟme estรกs escuchando? โAndrรฉ chasqueรณ los dedos delante de su amigo. โSรญ, perdรณn, ยฟquรฉ decรญas? โSantino saliรณ de sus cavilaciones, su mirada perdida finalmente enfocรกndose en su amigo. Andrรฉ suspirรณ. โDije que la hija de Tom Michel es una joyita. Investiguรฉ un poco mรกs y descubrรญ que la chica no es una dulce paloma; le gusta la bebida, alojarse yโฆ โAndrรฉ, rio burlรณn โacaba de tener un aborto. Las cejas de Santino se apretaron. โ ยฟUn aborto? โAsรญ es, tenรญa una relaciรณn con un capitรกn de fรบtbol, terminaron y ella se quedรณ con el paquete. โCielos, Andrรฉ, ยฟcรณmo consigues tanta informaciรณn? El hombre se carcajeรณ. โMรกximo es bueno en ello, su gente es muy eficiente. Santino asintiรณ. Mรกximo DโLuca era su otro primo, unos aรฑos mayor que รฉl y sobre todo leal. Tenรญa una empresa de seguridad e investigaciรณn que trabajaba para el gobierno y todo aquel que pudiera pagar sus servicios. โRecuรฉrdame enviarle un regalo por el nacimiento de sus trillizos. โEstaba muy molesto contigo โcontinuรณ Andrรฉ โdijo que vendrรญa en cualquier momento, asรญ que prepรกrate, tu madre junto a tu tรญa Brenda serรกn un duro frente. Santino rodรณ los ojos y siguiรณ viendo la fotografรญa en el iPad. โ ยฟY quรฉ piensas hacer con tu prometida? โpreguntรณ tentativamente Andrรฉ โDado que anoche le diste una habitaciรณn, supongo queโฆ โEn primer lugar, ella no es mi prometida, porque no pienso casarme con ella. Y, en segundo lugar, le di una habitaciรณn porque estaba medio muerta, ยฟes que no viste? โ ยกAy, perdรณn! Estรกs de un humor de perro. Y pensรกndolo bien, quizรกs la fiebre sea por alguna infecciรณn, ya sabes cรณmo son esas clรญnicas clandestinas. Seguramente la familia pensรณ que se te ablandarรญa el corazรณn โse rio divertido โse nota que no te conocen. Santino apagรณ el iPad y rodรณ la silla hacia atrรกs. โNo hagas conjeturas equivocadas. Solo la dejรฉ quedarse porque no querรญa que muriera en mi casa. PRIMER DESAYUNO EN FAMILIA โSeรฑora, por favorโฆ โel ama de llaves tratรณ de hacer entrar en razรณn a Sophia. โYa te he dicho que me voy. No sรฉ quรฉ demonios pasa, pero no soy ninguna seรฑora y no sรฉ por quรฉ estoy aquรญ. ยกExijo ver a ese tal Santino! โMi seรฑora, por favor, baje la voz. โEl tono de la empleada era nervioso. โAl joven Santino no le gustan los escรกndalos y ademรกs tiene mal carรกcter, lo mejor serรก que lo obedezca en todo. โ ยฟObedecer? โSophia alzรณ una ceja. โ ยฟY quรฉ se supone que soy: un perro amaestrado? โNo, no, mi seรฑora โel ama de llaves se apresurรณ a explicarle. โEs solo queโฆ โ ella mirรณ hacia la puerta y bajรณ la voz. โรl no era asรญ, se volviรณ asรญ. Las cejas de Sophia se fruncieron y la curiosidad picรณ en ella. โ ยฟA quรฉ te refieres? โBueno, รฉl cambiรณ mucho despuรฉs del accidente โdijo la mujer en tono bajo. โEl auto donde viajaban รฉl y su padre explotรณ, el seรฑor muriรณ y el joven Santino sobreviviรณ, pero a un alto costo. Su cuerpo quedรณ lleno de quemaduras yโฆ โla mujer bajรณ la cabeza โsus piernas no volvieron a funcionar. Ademรกs, ahora usa una mรกscara que oculta su rostro y se volviรณ un ser amargado y frรญo. Los ojos verdes de Sophia se dilataron. โ ยฟDices que estรก en silla de ruedas y usa una mรกscara? La mujer asintiรณ. โSรญ, pero ojalรก lo hubiera visto antes, no habรญa rostro como el suyo, era guapo y todas las mujeres se morรญan por estar con รฉl. โEl ama de llaves suspirรณ. โCuando volviรณ a casa ordenรณ retirar todas las fotografรญas de รฉl, dijo que no querรญa verse como era antes y que estaba prohibido sacarlas del รกtico. Sophia estaba muy confundida, pero tenรญa la leve impresiรณn de que sabรญa lo que estaba pasando. โBueno, el caso es que yo no soy la seรฑora y no voy a casarme con ese tal Santino, por favor ve por รฉl y dile que quiero verlo. โSeรฑoraโฆ โ ยกQue no me llames, seรฑora! โSophia la regaรฑรณ. โLlรกmame Sophia si no es mucha molestia. โEstรก bien, le dirรฉ al joven que usted quiere verlo. Cuando el ama de llaves se fue, sonรณ el celular de Sophia, afortunadamente lo habรญa dejado en el bolsillo de su pantalรณn. โ ยฟHola? โGracias a Dios que contestas โdijo Janna del otro lado. โTe llamรฉ un par de veces anoche, pero no contestaste, estaba muy preocupada. ยฟCรณmo estรกs? Sophia mirรณ la habitaciรณn y suspirรณ. โEstoy bien, pero tengo mucho que contarte. ยฟSigue en pie la oferta de mudarme contigo? โSabes que sรญ, ยฟya te decidiste a mandar al diablo a tu tรญa? โDigamos que voy a empezar a labrar mi propio camino. โEsa es la actitud que debiste tener desde un principio, yo voy a apoyarte en todo, y con lo de tu herencia, contratemos un abogado, tu tรญaโฆ โJanna, ahora no quiero pensar en eso, lo รบnico que me importa es encontrar un buen trabajo para poder pagar el tratamiento de mi madre. La herencia me da igual. โNo deberรญas decir eso, no sabes quรฉ tipo de herencia es, quizรกs tu padreโฆ โMi padre nos abandonรณ a mi madre y a mรญ. Eso es todo, lo que รฉl me haya dejado no me interesa. Ahora debo colgar, te llamarรฉ mรกs tarde. Sophia colgรณ la llamada y se dejรณ caer en la inmensa cama soltando un suspiro. De repente las cortinas comenzaron a moverse y ella se tensรณ. Su corazรณn se agitรณ y su estรณmago se entumeciรณ. Y antes de que ella gritara, un pequeรฑo niรฑo apareciรณ delante de ella. โยกยกMAMI!! Sophia se quedรณ congelada por un momento, mirando al pequeรฑo niรฑo que acababa de aparecer de entre las cortinas, llamรกndola โmamiโ con una voz que destilaba inocencia y confusiรณn. Por un instante, su corazรณn se detuvo, y luego, como si se reactivara, comenzรณ a latir frenรฉticamente. โ ยฟQuiรฉn eres tรบ? โpreguntรณ, tratando de mantener la calma. El pequeรฑo de seis se lanzรณ sobre el regazo de Sophia, ella fue tomada por sorpresa, pero un momento despuรฉs lo apartรณ. โNiรฑoโฆ Yoโฆ no soy tu madre. โClaro que sรญ โrespondiรณ el pequeรฑo mirรกndola con ojos brillantes de emociรณn. โLlevo mucho tiempo esperando una madre y finalmente papรก me trajo una casa. ยซยฟPapa? ยฟQuiere decir que este niรฑo es hijo de ese tal Santino?ยป La cabeza de Sophia trabajaba a toda velocidad. Apartรณ nuevamente al niรฑo y se agachรณ delante de รฉl, dรกndole una sonrisa. โCreo que hay una confusiรณn, yo no puedo ser tu mamiโฆ yoโฆ Las palabras se cortaron cuando ella vio la carita triste del niรฑo, los ojos que hace un momento brillaban de felicidad ahora estaban llenos de tristeza. โPensรฉ que eras tรบ, papรก, dijo que traerรญa una mamรก para mรญ, todos mis amigos de la escuela tienen a sus madres y yoโฆ nunca puedo llevar a la mรญa a las actividades escolares. El corazรณn de Sophia se apretรณ, ella podรญa entenderlo mรกs de lo que pensaba. Aunque no tenรญa seis aรฑos, tambiรฉn extraรฑaba a su madre. โA ver, primero dime cรณmo te llamas. El chiquillo sonriรณ de nuevo y se presentรณ. โMi nombre es รngelo Dโ Luca y soy hijo de Santino Dโ Luca, papรก parece amargado, pero es bueno, espero que pronto me den una hermanitaโฆ aunque serรญa mejor un hermano, las niรฑas son muy tontas y no pueden jugar aโฆ โEspera, esperaโฆ โSophia tapo la boca del pequeรฑo โCreo que vas muy rรกpido โdijo nerviosa. โYoโฆ no voy a darte una hermanita y tampoco un hermanito, lamento queโฆ En ese momento la puerta se abriรณ y era el ama de llaves. โSeรฑora, el desayuno estรก listo, el joven Santino se reunirรก con usted en un momento. โ ยกGenial! โexclamo el pequeรฑo รngelo โnuestro primer desayuno en familia. Sophia sintiรณ cรณmo la situaciรณn se deslizaba entre sus dedos como arena. La palabra โfamiliaโ resonรณ en su mente, creando un eco que no podรญa ignorar. รngelo, con su inocencia y sus esperanzas, habรญa creado un escenario que Sophia no sabรญa cรณmo manejar. Mirรณ al ama de llaves, buscando algรบn tipo de ayuda o guรญa en sus ojos, pero la mujer solo le ofreciรณ una sonrisa comprensiva y un gesto para que la siguieran al comedor. โVamos, รngelo โdijo Sophia finalmente, tomando de la mano al pequeรฑo. A pesar de la confusiรณn y la sorpresa, no podรญa negar el calor que le producรญa el entusiasmo del niรฑo. โVamos a desayunar. NO TE CREAS LA SEรORA Cuando Sophia bajรณ las escaleras, Santino ya los estaba esperando. El hombre sentado en su silla de ruedas no dejaba de ser atractivo, y ella no pudo evitar detallarlo. Llevaba un antifaz que cubrรญa casi todo su rostro, sin embargo, su boca cerrada estaba a la vista, y se demorรณ demasiado tiempo en los rosados. ยซยฟQuรฉ te pasa, Sophia? ยกDeja de mirarlo y termina con esto de una buena vez!ยป Se regaรฑรณ a sรญ misma. Sin embargo, sus ojos curiosos no obedecieron; siguiรณ mirando y se detuvo en los guantes de cuero, asumiรณ que seguramente las llamas habรญan quemado tambiรฉn sus manos. Siguiรณ mirando y, cuando finalmente sus miradas se encontraron, vio los ojos mรกs hermosos que jamรกs hubiera visto, eran de un azul casi verdoso, y estos hicieron que su corazรณn se agitara y que su estรณmago se tensara. Era un hecho: รฉl la ponรญa nerviosa. De repente, รngelo soltรณ su mano y corriรณ hacia รฉl. โ ยกPapi! โgritรณ el pequeรฑo, sentรกndose en su regazo. โ ยกCumpliste tu promesa, has traรญdo una mamรก a casa! Sophia abriรณ los ojos y estaba a punto de sacarlo de su error otra vez, cuando Santino le ordenรณ al ama de llaves que sirviera el desayuno. La piel de Sophia se erizรณ por todas partes y, sin poder evitarlo, su cuerpo reaccionรณ a su voz. Era el tipo de voz que harรญa que obedecieras, esa voz que querrรญas te dijera cosas prohibidas al oรญdo. Sophia se obligรณ a salir de su trance. ยซBasta, Sophia, ยฟquรฉ te pasa? Nunca has tenido a una pareja, sรญ, pero eso no quiere decir que vas a fantasear con desconocidosยป se dijo a sรญ misma. Mirรณ nuevamente a Santino y agregรณ en su mente ยซaunque sean atractivos y con rosados perfectos para besarยป Mientras el desayuno se servรญa, el silencio se instalรณ por un momento, solo roto por los sonidos cotidianos del ama de llaves preparando todo. Sophia intentaba recomponerse, luchando internamente con sus emociones y la extraรฑa atracciรณn que sentรญa hacia el hombre en silla de ruedas. โ ยฟVas a quedarte ahรญ mirando? โdijo Santino con frialdad. Sophia saliรณ de su estupor y tomรณ asiento donde le indicรณ el ama de llaves, estaba dispuesta a ir al grano, pero la queja de รngelo la interrumpiรณ. โNo me gusta el tomate, ยฟpor quรฉ siempre le ponen tomate a mi sรกndwich? โJoven รngelo, son รณrdenes de su padre. Debe comer vegetales, esโฆ Pero รngelo interrumpiรณ. โ ยกPero no me gustan! Papรก, no quiero comer tomate. Santino, que no estaba para las malcriadeces de su ahijado, le gruรฑรณ severamente. โTe comerรกs todo lo que hay en el plato, รngelo, y espero que esto no se repita. No quiero castigarte de nuevo. El chiquillo le dio una mirada triste y replicรณ. โEs solo el tomate, papรก, no me gustaโฆ Dile aโฆ โ ยกHe dicho que te lo comas! Y no quiero volver a escucharte. No te levantas hasta quรฉโฆ โOiga, no le hable asรญ โinterrumpiรณ Sophia sin poder evitarlo. โEs solo un niรฑo, sea mรกs amable y explรญquele. รngelo mirรณ a Sophia como su salvadora, se levantรณ y caminรณ hacia ella para abrazarla. โMamรก me apoya, papรก, por favor escรบchala. Santino mirรณ fijamente a Sophia y su paciencia se agotรณ. โLlรฉvate a รngelo โle ordenรณ al ama de llaves. La mujer no se hizo esperar, tomรณ al pequeรฑo de un brazo dispuesto a llevรกrselo, pero el joven luchรณ. โ ยกNo, no quiero! ยกQuiero comer con mi nueva madre! โJoven รngelo, haga caso, su padreโฆ โ ยกDรฉjalo! โordeno Sophia con dureza. โNo quiere ir, asรญ que no debes obligarlo. El ama de llaves la mirรณ estupefacta y luego buscรณ la mirada de Santino, era como si estuviera buscando una respuesta a quiรฉn obedecer. Santino dejรณ sus cubiertos con brusquedad y rodรณ su silla de ruedas en direcciรณn a Sophia. โVeo que te tomas muchas atribuciones, Serena โescupiรณ el nombre como si le asqueara. Sophia se sorprendiรณ, pero mantuvo la fachada. Recordรณ las palabras de su tรญa el dรญa anterior y cรณmo querรญa que ella suplantara a su prima; esta hubiera sido una excelente oportunidad para desenmascararla, pero no iba a poner en riesgo a su madre. Sabรญa que su tรญa Norma era capaz de cualquier cosa. โยกยกยกLina!!! โde pronto Santino gritรณ con ira y casi de inmediato apareciรณ una mujer con el rostro pรกlido. โ ยฟSรญ, seรฑor? โLlรฉvatelo โordenรณ. La mujer agarrรณ a รngelo en brazos, y este pataleรณ y llorรณ. โ ยกNo, quiero a mi mami! ยกQuiero quedarme con ella! ยกMami! โVamos, รngelo, pรณrtate bien โdijo la mujer tratando de calmarlo, aun cuando el pequeรฑo dejรณ salir sus lรกgrimas, ella no se detuvo y subiรณ las escaleras con รฉl. Luego, Santino mirรณ al ama de llaves de nuevo. โLlรฉvale su desayuno y dile que estรก castigado hasta que yo lo decida. โSรญ, seรฑor โla mujer asintiรณ y tomรณ el plato para luego irse. Cuando finalmente estuvieron solos, Santino dejรณ salir todo su veneno. โLlevas aquรญ solo unas horas y ยฟcrees que puedes convertirte en la seรฑora de esta casa? ยฟCrees que puedes complacer a mi hijo? ยฟPiensas que por el hecho de que te enviaron medio muerta a la puerta de mi casa voy a aceptarte? โรฉl formรณ una sonrisa burlona. โPues dรฉjame decirte esto, Serena Michel, no me interesa emparentar con una vagabunda como tรบ. Una que es solo una fรกcil que se vende al mejor postor y crรฉeme, puede que estรฉ en silla de ruedas y sea un monstruo, pero, aun asรญ, tengo mis lรญmites y nunca caerรญa tan bajo con una mujerzuela como tรบ. Sophia abriรณ los ojos con sorpresa; jamรกs en sus 22 aรฑos habรญa sido insultada de tal manera, sabรญa que se meterรญa en problemas, pero ella iba a defender su honor. Sin pensarlo y con la sangre hirviendo, levantรณ su mano dispuesta a abofetearlo; sin embargo, su movimiento fallรณ. Santino fue demasiado rรกpido y sostuvo su muรฑeca antes de que ella le volteara la cara del bofetรณn. El silencio se apoderรณ del ambiente por un momento, mientras ambos se miraban fijamente. La tensiรณn se volviรณ palpable, un combate de voluntades donde cada uno sostenรญa la mirada del otro sin ceder. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713164400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889890 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188613 | 1723678826 | 1026 | 914854536834871 | 1 | 1.4271340282126E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 149010831809532 | 0 | Foote Bros Carpet One | 120203493962290143 | footebroscarpetone.com | Contact us | NONE | image | Request Your Free Estimate Today | Are you ready for NEW FLOORING? Find flooring to give you that perfect look to upgrade your home! Let Foote Bros. Carpet One Floor & Home help you restyle your space. | https://www.footebroscarpetone.com/ | 1704862024 | 1.4901083180953E+14 | Foote Bros Carpet One | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417743634_938228457635357_7301204475501859853_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=t20e1qThoLwQ7kNvgFg7lrh&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDzmvnXavb99QQssR70QNTDJ6Jco6-oWXlkKLoUcNcWIw&oe=667E886E | person_profile | 0 | Foote Bros Carpet One | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/417826087_919608022885837_5953442466137926036_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=X13iHQ-FpTIQ7kNvgHlRjhy&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA-hxUCmWnSy-UGSgV8o4mIJXVZR3RQAeRqjfU43-JOnA&oe=667EA27F | 0 | 3 | Create a new look with spectacular flooring deals to decorate your Hall, Living Areas and More. Now is the time to shop our newly designed showroom for the perfect floor that you have been waiting for. Stop by our showroom or Request a free estimate now! | Foote Bros Carpet One | 286 | https://facebook.com/footebros.gadsden | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1704873600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1888982 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188467 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 329383040208092 | 1 | 8.1474932072127E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889005 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 501049765615218 | 1 | 9.9988967126549E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889013 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188469 | 1723678828 | 1026 | 803830378148242 | 1 | 3.5402420078106E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889061 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188473 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 1545167489365988 | 1 | 1.0035826548066E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209942435620281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718710682 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448653827_795098069497837_1012817998787489267_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=mrFyQb-4sCYQ7kNvgGsVmao&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBpcJvLtjWqy9IhlhwzPryxootV4HuN6I9LoqK2dxkO5w&oe=667E9FAD | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448566982_978436630390791_8330574289711442407_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oIhFp1ahrjUQ7kNvgFxzfM7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCtd0atfWqM375CzYosuKqFSbAywL8F0yeBxrRiIwqjJw&oe=667E8815 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889081 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188474 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 785649917019053 | 6 | 3.3658528265589E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 115394181480650 | 0 | Reading Time | 120209784396280689 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=11783&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718467170 | 1.1539418148065E+14 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448229144_1183285196160567_3600850800769575187_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6lRANz_lpk0Q7kNvgEeQbP-&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA4EU7_eNANgtfHsarjZez1KaEpHST3negOy4S-_vsXIg&oe=667EA765 | person_profile | 0 | Reading Time | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448240949_467348829124326_9143261093872640561_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lPcgA0mm9CwQ7kNvgGJzvBZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAhGPylXR-OoVTRN7a7U0vZsLZBta8vs0SfXVBtJo_lbA&oe=667E8315 | 0 | 3 | One Neah โWhere the heck is she?โ I hear the Beta scream. I already knew Beta Kyle was talking about me, the only servant of the house. I groan and get to my feet, grabbing the cleaning basket and taking it with me. The moment Beta Kyle sees me, he strides towards me and his hand slices against my cheek. I donโt make a sound. Years of experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut at all times and only speak when spoken too, even if what they are doing to me hurts. โAlpha Trey and I are expecting company and you still have not cleaned the office like you were asked.โ Beta Kyle spits at me I nod my head and my hand tightens on the cleaning basket. If I could just find the courage to swing it at his head, it would make my day. I resisted, he was stronger than me and I didnโt need locking up for another week with no food. My stomach already hurt enough. โWe are trying to make a good impression on Alpha Dane. Do you not understand how important it is for us to join ourselves with his pack?!โ I donโt answer, I know it's a trick, to try and get me to say something so that he can give himself a reason to punish me. I keep my eyes low so that I didnโt have to look at his face. Alpha Dane, I had only ever heard rumours about him. Words exchanged between the other pack members when I was in the room. From what I gathered, he was a ruthless man, a Wolf feared by others. He didnโt mess around and he had the largest pack. โHe is the Alpha of Black Shadow, the biggest pack in the world, we need him!โ Beta Kyle continues. Yet he doesnโt tell me why. We had never been attacked and we had never attacked anyone, so why did we need another pack to help us? He places his hands on my shoulders, digging his nails into my thinning skin and turns me around, kicking me in the but as he shoves me towards the office. โUseless Wolf.โ He mutters as he moves away. Quietly closing the door, I lean back against it, observing the already clean office. There was nothing out of place, it looked perfectly fine for a meeting with this so-called powerful Alpha. Closing my eyes, I slide down to the floor. I hated this house. I thought that when I turned eighteen, I could finally escape, but four years later, here I still am, a slave in my own home. Doing all the dirty tasks for my brother, Alpha Trey and the pack. While my ex mate, Beta Kyle waltzes around reminding me of how worthless I am. Someone clears their throat and I freeze, I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair, just around the corner. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of drink. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door as my heart pounded. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, there was an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. He doesnโt introduce himself either, why should he? โCome forward.โ He orders and I already feel a lump forming in my throat. Alpha Trey was going to finish me. I step around the corner, doing as Iโm told, allowing him to see me properly. I close my eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ I nod, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they found out about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? โWhy do you smell strange? And how is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โSpit it out, I havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever wanted or liked to do. They never let me tell my side of the story. All they do is laugh and mock me. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Itโs rude to not look at them. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them, there was no way I was making eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound,โ I mutter. Twice, I wanted to add. Twice my abilities were bound. But he probably wasnโt interested in that part. He leans forward, carefully placing his glass on the small table next to the chair. I could feel him staring at me, โWhy would someone do that?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ I whisper. It wasnโt far from the entire truth but it was the simplest answer I could give. Thereโs a twitch in his cheek. Was he angry to hear of such a punishment? Or maybe, just like the others, he was amused by it. I couldnโt tell. The door swings open and my brother screeches at me โNeah, what the heck are you doing in my office?โ He turns to the crimson eyed man. โI am so sorry that my sister is bothering you, Alpha Dane.โ Crap, it was him. My brother spins around, his hand stretching out to hit me. I close my eyes, bracing myself, ready to feel the burn. โI wouldnโt do that if I were you.โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through the room. Peeking through slits, I see Alpha Dane has risen to his feet, his hand coiled around my brother's wrist. He was taller than my brother, more muscly too. โNeah,โ My name rolls off of his tongue, โwas kindly showing me to your office, Alpha Trey, as you failed to meet me at the front of your house like I requested. I was lucky someone was present, at least someone understands the importance of this deal.โ What? I had no idea what he was talking about. And he had no reason to lie for me. My brother glares at me, clenching his jaw tight. I was going to pay for this later. I would have to try and steal some food. โGo and get Beta Kyle.โ Alpha Trey seethes. โTell him that our guest is here.โ I nod my head and hurry from the room, the last thing I wanted was to be caught between bickering men. โBeta Kyle,โ I whisper as I enter the dining hall. He instantly glares at me with his dark eyes. I had spoken without being spoken to. โAlpha Trey is in the office with Alpha Dane. I was sent to inform you.โ He slams the newspaper down on the table and glares at me as he walks by. โYouโre lucky that the Alpha sent you to get me, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing sunlight for a few days.โ Pausing behind me, he yanks my head back, locking his fingers in my hair, leaning in close to me, I feel his hot breath on my skin. He doesnโt speak, it was just his way of proving that he could do what he wants when he wants. I try to keep myself busy so I can stay as far away from the office as possible. My peace doesnโt last long when I hear my brother calling out to me. Quietly, I pad towards the office and plaster a smile on my face as I open the door. โNeah, go get the champagne and some glasses, we are celebrating.โ I bow my head and hurry to the drinks cabinet. Quickly finding what my brother has asked for. As I re-enter the office, I can feel Alpha Dane watching my every move, even the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. No one ever watches me this closely. Approaching the small table by Alpha Danes chair, I start to fill the glasses. He takes the champagne bottle from me, telling me he is more than capable of filling his own glass. I feel my cheeks flame, not from embarrassment, but because I knew that I would be punished for this. I should have been quicker. I should have filled the glasses before entering the office. I should haveโฆ. My brain freezes when I see my brother glaring at me. โNeah is your sister, correct?โ Alpha Dane questions my brother. โShe is.โ Alpha Trey mutters with disgust. He looks away from me to focus on the man asking questions. โWhy do you treat her like vermin?โ Straight to the point, my brother wouldnโt like that. He only liked sharing information on his terms. No one had spoken to my brother about his treatment of me because everyone took great joy in beating me. I didnโt know what to do. I couldnโt move but I knew I had to get out of there. If this deal goes to pot because of me, then that would be my fault too. โNeah was responsible for our parents' death.โ Alpha Trey spits I closed my eyes, battling back the tears that were threatening to break free. โResponsible how?โ Alpha Daneโs voice rumbles through me. He was definitely angry. โShe served them Wolfsbane.โ Two Neah Donโt make a sound. Donโt make a sound. I knew Alpha Dane was studying me. They all did, no one could ever quite believe how someone could do something so disgusting as poisoning their own parents. I stood there, with my head hanging low, wishing for the ground to open up and suck me in. There are movements around me. He was standing directly in front of me. With a rough finger he tilts my face up towards his, forcing me to look at him. Slowly, his hand latches onto my throat but he doesnโt squeeze. โYou poisoned your parents?โ โI was six.โ I splutter. โI just made them lemonade.โ My voice comes out all squeaky as I try to defend myself. I could barely remember my parents, but I could remember all the guilt I had been made to feel since that day. His crimson eyes flash to my brothers. โHardly seems fair to blame a six year old.โ โA six year old should know the difference between plants.โ Alpha Trey snaps โSounds to me like she was set up.โ Alpha Dane shrugs his shoulders, letting go of my throat. โWe all know that standard wolfsbane doesnโt affect us anymore. We evolved from that thing centuries ago.โ What? What did he mean? Wolfsbane wasnโt lethal. It had been drummed into me since I could walk. โWhich only leaves Blood of Wolfsbane.โ Alpha Dane mutters โYou werenโt there, Alpha Dane.โ My brother muttered through gritted teeth as his eyes narrowed to slits. โIt was Wolfsbane.โ He nods his head. โYou are right, I was not present.โ Great, now there was someone else who could remind me of something I had done by accident, years ago. โBut tell me this, where would a six year old get Blood of Wolfsbane?โ โI didnโt ask you here to talk about my slave!โ Alpha Trey spits. โOr what happened to my parents.โ Alpha Dane grabs his leather jacket from the chair. Unlike other Alphaโs he seemed to dress more casually. A simple black tee and jeans covered his huge frame. And unlike other Alphaโs, his arms are bare of tattoos, not a single bit of ink poked out anywhere. โYouโre right and now I have a few things to mull over.โ โI thought we agreed.โ My brother exclaims โNothing has been signed. Now I will show myself out.โ The moment he is out of the office, both my brother and Beta Kyle round on me. โWhat the heck did you say to him?โ My brother demands, slamming a hand into my stomach. โN..nothing. Well, he just asked me why I smelled funny.โ โDid you tell him?โ Beta Kyle demands. He was practically spitting in my face. I hated him. I hated him so much that I had vowed to one day get my revenge and rip his stomach out through his mouth. โWELL?โ My brother yells when I donโt immediately respond and smacks me across the side of the head. My head involuntarily moves up and down. โBut I didnโt say it was you.โ I tried to sound strong and confident but it just comes out as a whisper. If they werenโt Wolves, they probably wouldnโt have heard me. My brother's hand locks into my black hair as he yanks my head back, sending a shooting pain through my skull. โIf you have ruined this, you wonโt see daylight again.โ He drags me by my hair from the office and down the hallway towards the basement door. โPleaseโฆ.โ I beg. โHe was an AlphaโฆIโฆ I had to answer him.โ My cheeks burn with my tears as he flings the door open. On the other side of the door is Alpha Dane. He is leaning against the wall with his arms folded, staring out at us. My brother's hand falls from my hair, relieving the pressure on the back of my skull.. โAlpha Dane, I thought you had left.โ Alpha Trey murmurs angrily. โI said I would show myself out. I thought I had found the door, but instead I find a basement, riddled in your sister's strange scent. Is this how you treat your family?โ โAs I said,โ my brother holds his ground, โShe is responsible for the death of my parents, so yes, this is what she deserves.โ โYou should keep your nose out of other packs' business!โ Beta Kyle adds. Alpha Dane laughs. โIf I agree to this deal, everything about your business becomes my business. So tell me, what would your punishment be for her? No food, locked away for a week, beatings?โ โWe donโtโฆ.โ โReally?โ He cocks a brow, โYou really expect me to believe that you would have just let her sleep? I have already stopped you from hitting her once. " His eyes roam over me. "She is underfed, bags hover under her tired blue eyes. For a sister of an Alpha, she is certainly not treated like one. Regardless of what she allegedly did when she was a pup.โ โShe did do it!โ Alpha Trey seethes โAnd she has nothing to do with our deal.โ โThatโs for me to decide.โ His crimson eyes flicker around the hallway. โWhere is your mate? I would be interested to know how she feels about this.โ I close my eyes, silently begging my brother not to call his Luna. Luna Cassandra is worse than Beta Kyle and Alpha Trey together. โOn second thoughts, why bother her. Iโm certain she is just as vile as you.โ He sneers I peer through slits to see his crimson eyes on me. There was no reason for him to defend me and yet he was. I was a nobody, no one special. Just who everyone called a traitor. Only instead of being given a death sentence, my brother had decided to make me spend my life suffering. โI have a proposition for you, Alpha Trey.โ Alpha Dane is smirking at my brother โWe have already agreed on terms.โ โWell, Iโm adding one. And if you donโt agree, you will not get my help. Instead, you will become my enemy. And we both know, you donโt want that.โ โI take it that your new terms have something to do with her?โ Alpha Trey mutters through clenched teeth. โYou would be correct. Let me take her away to my pack and then you, Trey will have a deal.โ Me? Why would he want me? As my brother and his Beta discuss me, Alpha Dane is still studying me. His look made me nervous. What could someone like him possibly want with me? โDeal.โ Alpha Trey sticks out his hand for Alpha Dane to shake. He doesnโt take it, instead his crimson eyes shift from me to my brother. โI will have paperwork drawn up and will return tomorrow.โ He reaches a hand out and cups my face, โEnsure you have everything packed.โ He drags his thumb across my bottom lip and strides to the opposite end of the hallway and straight to the front door. He knew exactly where the front door was, so what was he up to? He pauses at the door. โIf I find out any one of you has laid a hand on her. The contract will be the last thing you need to worry about.โ He struts out, slamming the door behind him. โGet out of my sight!โ My brother snaps at me. Hurrying away, I make my way up the stairs and into my tiny bedroom. It was practically empty, the only things I had were a few changes of clothes. It would take me less than a minute to pack By morning, I hadnโt slept. Alpha Danes questions were on repeat and why was I so interesting to a Wolf like him. There was a reason he had the biggest pack. They were known for their fighting abilities, thatโs why my brother wanted to link Moonshine with Alpha Danes pack, but where did I fit in to all this? And what o earth is Blood of Wolfsbane? Three Dane โTenth brideโs the charm.โ Jenson mocks as the driver pulls up in front of Moonshines packhouse. โShut up!โ Eric snaps at him โBoth of you shut your mouths. Before you say something you regret!โ โHe will never learn.โ My wolf, Aero muses. The driver pulls open the door. โJust give me a second, I need to speak to my men.โ The door closes and neither one of them speaks. โShe isnโt like the others. Donโt speak to her, donโt look at her. And you Jenson, keep your hands to yourself or you might just lose them this time.โ I was more rattled than usual. Neah was different to the previous selected mates. I didnโt know what it was or whether it was because I was used to confident women, but there was something about her. And Aero appeared to like her too, more than any of the others. I had to have her. โI mean it!โ I snap at Jenson's smug face, โBeing my brother wonโt change my mind!โ He runs his fingers over his lips as though he was zipping them shut. They follow me from the car. Standing in front of the old packhouse, all three of us stare up at it. Because until a month ago, I knew nothing about them and even after my visit, all I had learned was the Alpha is a beast. My knuckles hammer on the door. Itโs barely open an inch when I force myself through making his Beta stumble back. I spot her straight away, hiding herself behind a corner. โAre you ready?โ I call out. โIf you just want toโฆ..โ Beta Kyle starts. โI was not talking to you. I was speaking to Neah.โ The expression on Beta Kyleโs face was a picture. His jaw hung open and his eyes are wide. He clearly had never been told what to do, even by his Alpha. Neah steps out from her hiding spot, clutching a barely full carrier bag. She drags her teeth across her bottom lip and nods her head. โWhere are the rest of your things? I told you everything needs to be packedโ โThatโs all she has.โ Trey snorts as he makes his appearance. โThatโs it?โ I stare at him. โThatโs all her belongings? Sheโs what, in her early twenties and thatโs all she has?โ โWhat more does she need?!โ His Beta sneers. โKill him, let me rip out his throat and he will regret the day he crossed us.โ โWhat are you waiting for?โ I hear a horrible shrill voice that seems to vibrate through the floors. Looking away from the Beta, I see a woman holding on to a statue of herself that sat at the bottom of the stairs. Her blonde hair hung in waves around her face as her green eyes studied me and she sways her hips as she moves to Trey. I noticed Neahโs reaction yesterday. When I asked Trey where his mate was. Her whole body had tensed up in fear. She was afraid of this woman and I wanted to know why. โTake her Alpha Dane. Iโm sure she will be as useful a slave to you as she is to us.โ Her shrill voice goes straight through me. โLook at the silly girl, sheโs going to pass out.โ The blonde bimbo laughs โYou donโt get to talk about her like that anymore.โ I glare at the blonde, โShe is not your toy. She is not your slave and I suggest that you, Alpha Trey keep your wife in check. There is only so much disobedience that I will tolerate.โ โDISOBEDIENCE!โ The woman screeches just as Neahโs hip hits the floor. โHow dare you! If anyone is disobedient, itโs that rat in the corner.โ โWho the heck is she calling a rat?โ Aero growls โYou should make yourself familiar with our agreement.โ I snap. โIt seems your mate has not told you everything.โ Waving Eric forward, he pulls a thick wad of paper from the folder under his arm. The contract that I have drawn up. โAll that for your help?โ His mateโs eyes are wide โI donโt do half-witted contracts.โ Taking the contract from Eric, I shove it against Treyโs chest โShall we go to the office?โ Trey leads the way with his mate clinging on to him and his Beta hurrying behind. My men follow them while I stay behind to check on my new mate. โYou are more than welcome to join us, after all, you are involved in this deal. Or my car is outfront, you can take your stuff and wait there for me.โ โAre those my only options?โ she whispers, keeping her eyes low โFor now. Personally, I think you should sit in with us. It will give me great pleasure in pissing off that mate of your brothers.โ She keeps her blue eyes low as she continues to clutch that bag of hers. This close to her, I could really see how ill she looked. Even her heart beat is slow, like itโs fighting to hang on to life. โSo what will it be?โ โIโฆ.โ Her head rotates between the front door and the direction of the office. โIโฆ.. The office I guess.โ โGood choice.โ I hold out a hand for her but she doesnโt take it. Pushing herself up to her feet. She wobbles a little, but steadies herself. Walking a few steps behind her, I see the evil glares she receives from Trey and the other two idiots as she enters the office.. โTake a seat.โ I whisper as I walk past her. My hand grazes her lower back and she immediately tenses up. She stands, frozen to the spot. Only her eyes dart about when she shakes her head. โSit!โ I say it a little louder โShe doesnโt have that privilege here!โ The blonde snaps, with her lips curved up in amusement โSitting is not a privilege.โ I growl, wondering what else they were forcing her to do. I couldnโt see any bruises on her arms or legs, a good sign, I hoped. โIt better be!โ Aero paces in my head. He wanted her out of this place as much as I did. The blonde physically recoils in her seat. Her mouth falls wide open, shocked that I had said something. โAnd I suggest,โ I look at Trey, โYou tell your mate to keep her mouth shut. Or I can shut it for her.โ โAlpha Dane, you are in my homeโฆ..โ โAnd you want my help, correct?โ The three of them were fuming. No one liked being told what to do in their own home, yet they were doing just that to Neah. I point to the empty chair between Jenson and Eric and she finally sits down. โLetโs just get this done.โ Trey snaps, โThe sooner she is gone, the happier I can be.โ โYou should read the contract.โ I muse โI agreed that you could take her as part of our deal.โ โIdiot!โ Eric murmurs. He knew as well as I did that contracts should be read before they are signed They sign without reading and practically throw the contract back at me. โDone.โ Trey mutters โGood, you can get her out of my house.โ Treyโs mate screeches. If I had it my way, I would just take Neah, then I wouldnโt have to put up with the twidles, but this way, they canโt have her back. Even if they begged. A contract was a contract and it was impossible for them to get out of. Getting to my feet, I hold a hand out to Neah, โCome, we are leaving this rat hole before I lose my temper.โ Her warm fingers slip into my hand as she rises to her feet. Her other hand clutches the bag to her chest as she walks with me to the front door. She doesnโt even look back to say goodbye and that confirmed everything I needed to know. She hated them as much as they hated her. She pauses at the open front door, her hand falling from mine. Her blue eyes are wide as she stares at the limo. โCome.โ I instruct Eric and Jenson are standing behind her, watching her curiously. โIs she okay?โ Eric links me. โNeah?โ I step in front of her and she doesnโt move. She seems to be staring right through me. โItโs time to go.โ โOkay.โ Her lips barely move She takes a step forward, almost as if she is in slow motion. Her hands grip the door frame, her knuckles turn white as her heartbeat increases. Her lips part a little and her hand falls from the door frame just as her eyes roll to the back of her head. โIโve got you.โ I mutter, catching her just before she hits the floor. Her entire body tenses up as I lift her and carry her to the car. She was so weak and was even lighter than I expected. She probably didnโt weigh much more than a small child. Jenson and Eric get in the car first. Jenson cocks his eyebrow at me and has a smirk plastered to his face as I slide in with Neah on my lap. โKeep your thoughts to yourself, Jenson!โ I hold her close, listening to her breathe and her heart as it slowed. Letting my fingers comb through her dark hair as she becomes a little more with it. Suddenly, she sits up right, moving away from me and trying to make herself as small as possible. Deciding not to force her to do anything, I keep my attention on my Beta and my brother, talking about pack stuff while casting a glance over to her every so often to make sure she was alright. โCome.โ I mutter as the limo comes to a stop. I donโt wait for the driver and get out myself, holding a hand out for her. โIโm fine.โ She speaks at last while glancing at the others and shuffles herself forward to the open door. She stares up at my home, gasping a little. It was easily three times the size of her previous home and I hoped that she would be happy here. That I could provide her with a life that was better than her last. โLet me give you a tour.โ I suggest as she continues to clutch that carrier bag to her chest. She follows me in, not speaking a word. I had no idea if she was listening to what I was saying or not โThe omegas swap out on a rotational basis. Good for the youngsters to learn some responsibilities before they get proper jobs.โ I tell her while showing her the dining hall with a table long enough to fit twenty people around. We move through to the kitchen. Where I point out a board on the wall. โIf there is anything you need, you just add it to the board and it will be ordered in.โ Her brow furrows and still she says nothing. Picking up a pen, I smile. Maybe she felt intimidated by me. โSo tell me, what do you need because there is no way you are living under my roof with just the things that are in that bag.โ Her dazzling blue eyes dart around the room โWell?โ I ask. โI donโt need anything.โ She whispers Sighing, I start scribbling things down. Underwear, jeans, workout clothes, dresses, shoes, anything I can think of that will cover her for a few days. Holding the pen between my teeth, I grab her around the waist. My thumbs meet just above her belly button and my fingers touch her spine. She was so thin, how was she even alive? Four Dane She looked like a deer caught in headlights as I write her size down. She was tinier than I thought. Skin and bone. If I had moved my hands up any higher, I would have felt every rib sticking out. It sickened me, she should be strong, powerful, she had Alpha blood running through her veins. I also saw how she scrunched her face up when I measured her. It wasnโt fear, it was pain. She was hiding something underneath the baggy maids dress. โI know you want to say something, so just say it. Iโm not interested in the crap Trey drummed into you. You donโt have to wait until someone asks you a question. You are free to say what you want. Are you injured?" "No." She was lying, I could feel it. She shakes her head as if it would confirm her answer and a lock of her black hair falls from the band that was supposed to be holding it back. Neah was going to be a tough girl to crack. A life of being starved had made her quite protective over herself. I will make Trey pay for what he has done to her. โYou have to say something, Neah. I cannot read your mind. When I mark you, at least I will know what you are feeling.โ โMark me?โ I didnโt think her eyes could get any wider. โYes, I will mark you.โ She was completely and utterly shocked by the idea. Her pink lips part a little as she continues to stare at me. I thought she knew. I thought that was why she came so willingly. My Beta had kept asking me if I was certain I wanted her as my bride. There was no doubt about it, she had a strange scent but something was luring me to her. I couldnโt take my eyes off of her when I first saw her. My Wolf Aero was going mad for her too. Though he hadnโt said a word about her. Annoyed with me for not taking her home with us yesterday. โYouโฆ.You brought me so that you could mark me.โ She takes a step back, walking into the kitchen island. She winces a little and quickly covers up her pain, relaxing her face.. โIf Trey had bothered reading the contract, he would have discovered that you are to be my bride, not a slave. He would also have read that if he or his ridiculously silly mate tried doing anything to you going forward, that pack would become mine, or rather, yours. I never bought you, Neah, you were always destined to be mine.โ โIโm a murderer.โ She gasps. โWhy would someone like you want me for a bride?โ โBloodโ Aero growls interrupting my thoughts. I glance down at her baggy dress. A blood stain had appeared right where I had my hands wrapped around her. โWhatโs that? Are you injured?โ I demand, I had barely touched her. She covers the stain with her hand. โItโs nothing. Itโs just a cut that I keep knocking and it opens up again. I forget itโs there.โ Forget? How could she forget a wound? โWhy isnโt she healing?โ I feel Aeroโs panic. โSheโs been with us less than two hours and already she has some form of injury.โ His need to protect her was strong. It hadnโt occurred to me that her lack of abilities included not being able to heal. I would have to find someone who could reverse the binding and soon. โShow me!โ โItโs fine.โ She mumbles I was already so sick of hearing that phrase. โItโs not optional.โ I mutter. โIf you wonโt show me, I will have to find a way to look, myself.โ Her heart skips a beat. She looks around the kitchen. โCan.... can we go somewhere more private?โ โPrivate?โ I didnโt really do privacy. What Wolf did?! She bobs her head but still keeps her focus slightly off of me. Almost afraid to look me directly in the eyes. โOffice,โ Aero mutters. โI was just going to suggest that!โ I snap back at my Wolf. I feel his eyes roll as he retreats to some dark corner of my mind. โThis way.โ I gesture to the door. Neah waits for me and follows closely behind. The scent of blood steadily grew stronger, it was more than just a cut. I already knew that. In the office, I hit the remote and the blinds start to drop, blocking out the sunlight. Neah hesitates and slowly begins to unfasten the buttons of the dress but only where the large blood stain was. Keeping everything else covered from me. She pulls the dress to one side. The wound was about four inches long and already fairly infected. โSee, itโs fine.โ she whispers. โYou need to stop saying that.โ She closes her mouth and starts to fasten the buttons. โNo,โ I grabbed her hands, I had caught sight of another bruise. โLet me see the rest of them.โ It wasnโt optional. She gasps as my fingers rip apart the rest of the buttons. Her sports bra had seen better days, just the same as her underwear. But it was the bruising I was most concerned about. Bruise upon bruise, scars that had come from whips. Her hip bones and ribs stuck out too. Turning her around, and pulling the dress from her, I find that her back is just the same. Yet interestingly, there was nothing above her chest and nothing below her thighs. Her arms were completely bare of wounds too. There was only one reason why someone would do that. To either hide what they were doing to someone, or to keep up appearances. They didnโt want guests to see. More importantly, they didnโt want me to see, considering the meeting was arranged over a month ago. She fumbles with the dress, pulling it tightly around her thin frame. โYou need to see a doctor.โ โItโs โฆ..โ she trails off when she sees the anger on my face. โIt always heals, eventually.โ โDid Trey do this?โ I mutter with my teeth gritted and gesture to her body She lowers her blue eyes. โCassandra?โ She still doesnโt answer me. โThat prick that follows Trey around? All three of them?โ She pulls her dress tighter around her and silently nods. She brings her hand up to her face, brushing her cheek, wiping away an escaped tear. โAnyone else?โ โThe pack.โ She whispers. โIโm going to kill them all.โ Aero growls. He will have to get in line, โBecause of what you allegedly did to your parents.โ She nods. โI donโt believe you were responsible.โ She tilts her head up towards me, her brow knits together as her eyes finally find mine. โBecause of Blood of Wolfsbane?" Five Neah โIโฆI donโt know what Blood of Wolfsbane is?โ I whisper He frowns at me. โYour brother said you knew the difference between plants.โ โIโฆโ I didnโt have an answer. I couldnโt remember, not fully. โBlood of Wolfsbane is Wolfsbane fed by our blood. The leaves will have a red hue to them. I canโt imagine a child would know what it is because it is not freely grown. Your brotherโs story doesnโt add up.โ โOh.โ โI wonโt stop until I find out who did this, Neah.โ His crimson eyes narrow. โI will make them pay for the suffering you have endured.โ He sits on the edge of his desk, studying me. โRight now, you do need to see someone about the infection.โ I kept my mouth closed, I was still trying to process his news of me being set up. Why had my brother never considered it? โCome, I will show you our bedroom. You can shower before we see the pack doctor.โ Frozen to the spot, I donโt move. Did he just say โour bedroom,โ? As in, we are sharing a bedroom? I guess he thinks he can mke love with me whenever he wants if Iโm his contract bride. A shiver runs down my spine at the thought. Glancing up, I see him watching me. He is stood at the open door, waiting for me. Ensuring my dress has me covered, I step out into the hallway. No one was around and the hallways were quiet. As we moved, Alpha Dane would tell me what each room was, but he seemed more focussed on getting me to the bedroom. His bedroom is huge, with massive windows, just like the rest of the house. The bed sat pressed up against the wall. All around it, thin drapes hung from the ceiling, but they were tied back at each bed post. What surprised me the most was that the bath and the shower were in the same room. Only the toilet was in a small room to the side of the shower. No privacy, whatsoever. Though, he didnโt seem to care about that. He makes me jump when I feel his warm breath on my skin. โYou donโt need to be afraid.โ I may not be able to smell him, but he would be able to scent the changes in my emotions. Crossing the room, he pulls open the glass door to the shower and turns it on. The moment he closes the door, the steam of the shower quickly fogs up the glass. And still, I find myself afraid. He gave me no clue as to what he was expecting from me. โHey,โ His rough fingers tip my face up. โItโs just you and me and for now, I will let you shower in peace.โ Walking away, he pulls his phone out of his pocket and messes around with it before placing it on the bedside table. โThe alarm is set for ten minutes. I will come back then. I will bring you something to wear so just stay in the towel. Understand?โ He stares at me, waiting for an answer and I just nod. A ten minute shower. I was lucky if I got a minute shower back home and the water was always cold. He moves to the door and with his hand resting on the door knob he looks back over his shoulder at me. โI really wish you would talk more, Neah.โ Alpha Dane leaves me in peace and I make a mad dash for the shower as if Iโm in some kind of fantasy land and this was all a dream. Maybe it was, maybe I was about to wake up in the basement of my home. The smells of the soaps and shampoos are divine as I lather them into myself. And my hair has never felt so clean. The wound on my stomach stung as the hot water hit it, but I didnโt care, it was worth it. Someone in the room clears their throat and I freeze. Thanking the steam for keeping me semi hidden. โNeah, are you done? The alarm went off five minutes ago.โ Alpha Daneโs voice seems louder in here. I had been so caught up in the freedom of a simple shower that I hadnโt even heard the alarm or the Alpha come back into the room. โComing.โ I mutter, turning off the water and pulling a towel around me to hide the hideousness underneath. Stepping out, I already see that my ripped dress, underwear and worn sandals had been removed from the floor. Alpha Dane sits on the end of the bed with what looked like folded clothes on his lap and a pair of trainers. โItโs not much, as we donโt have anyone with as small a waist as you.โ He smiles as he hands over the clothes. A matching navy blue sweatshirt and joggers. โYou will have to make do without the underwear for now. Should be here first thing tomorrow.โ He watches me with a cocked eyebrow as I pull the joggers on and tug the sweatshirt over my head before removing the towel. Maybe he was used to the women parading themselves in front of him, or throwing themselves at him because he has power, but I wasnโt like that. โLetโs go.โ He rises to his feet and this time, I follow him. Something told me that if I didnโt get this wound looked at, it would put him in a bad mood. The pack doctor was young, unlike the one back home who was old and afraid to let anyone take over from him. She smiles at us as we enter the pack hospital and rewraps her dark hair into a bun. โRaven, this is Neah.โ Alpha Dane introduces me with a grin. I keep my eyes low as I hear Raven say, โAlpha Dane, what seems to be the problem apart from the strange smell she has brought with her.โ It didnโt sound like a hurtful comment like I was used to, but more a comment of curiosity. โShe will tell you herself when she finds her tongue.โ โI have a wound.โ I whisper. โAnd you are not healing?โ Raven asks, confused โI donโt have my Wolf.โ I hated saying it. It was just a constant reminder that I did not fit in. โHer Wolf was bound when she was a kid.โ Alpha Dane tells her. โThatโs why her scent is strange. Her Wolf is there, locked away, waiting to be freed.โ My eyes flicker up only to find him staring straight back at me. I had always believed that my Wolf was gone. Not that she was trapped. Ravenโs dark eyes hover on me. โWow, okay.โ She grabs my hand. โThis way, letโs take a look at this wound of yours.โ She leads me into an empty room and asks me to lay on the bed and to show her my wound. Pulling up the sweatshirt, just enough for her to see the wound. Her eyes widen, a flicker of rage passing over them as she takes in the infected wound and the bruising that surrounds it. Her fingers carefully press around the wound. โHow long ago?โ โA few days.โ I mutter, though I wasnโt sure. Every beating blurred into another one. Any day that I wasnโt hit was a good day. Raven shakes her head. โThis is longer than a few days ago, the infection has had at least a week to develop.โ โNeah, you need to tell us the truth.โ Alpha Dane orders โI donโt know.โ โNEAH!โ His deep voice rumbles through me and I close my eyes, fearing his anger. Anger brought punishment, punishment brought pain. โI swear, I donโt know. The beatings, they happen so often that they just kind ofโฆ. Iโm never not bruised.โ Thereโs silence and I was too afraid to open my eyes. Alpha Trey had said it over and over, that if anyone found out, he would make my life a misery, more than it already was. I used to wonder who would ever find out that didnโt already know. Now here I was, sitting in another packโs hospital, revealing the truth. โHeal her!โ Alpha Dane shouts after what seems like forever. He storms from the room, pulling a phone out of his pocket. โYou will have to forgive my brother. His temper is short, especially when it comes to things like this.โ Raven mutters as she gently inspects my wound โYour brother?โ I whisper, opening my eyes โAh, I see he informed you. Iโm guessing he didnโt tell you that Jenson is our brother too?โ I shake my head, Iโm guessing Jenson was one of the men that came to my brother's house. She chuckles. โJenson is considered to be our brotherโs Gamma.โ โGamma?โ I had never heard of the term. โYep and Alpha Dane has a love/hate for me working here. He wants me to represent our family, but he knows this is what Iโm good at.โ She grabs a pot of cream from the cupboard. โNow this needs to be applied three times a day. It should clear up the infection, if it hasnโt changed in a couple of days, I will take another look. My brother is waiting for you out front.โ โThanks.โ I mumble, taking the pot of cream from her. I looked at the label, but couldnโt read it. I had never learned to read. She bobs her head at me as I hurry out to find Alpha Dane on his phone, snapping at someone. He hangs up as soon as he sees me and asks what Raven said. โCream, three times a day.โ I show him the pot and he takes it from me. โGood, come.โ He strides off and I have to run to keep up with him. I follow him through the house and into the office. โShow me.โ He orders, pulling the lid off the pot. It wasnโt going to be negotiable, not when he had used the same tone moments before he ripped my dress open earlier. Slowly lifting my sweatshirt, he crouches down in front of me and gently smothers the wound in the cold cream. โI donโt want you to lie to me, Neah. Not ever. If you canโt remember, that is what you need to tell me. Is that clear? I donโt want to have to guess what you mean.โ โOkay.โ I couldnโt say anything else, I was too focussed on the warmth of his hands. One presses against my lower back, holding me steady while the other gently rubs cream into my wound. The only touch I had received from another man was a beating. โStop holding your breath.โ He tells me, getting to his feet. โI am not going to hurt you.โ It seemed impossible to believe given my history. The act, the words coming from him, it just didnโt feel real. | Reading Time | 1037 | https://facebook.com/100090422959516 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889112 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188480 | 1723678829 | 1026 | 404621832409719 | 28 | 9.6783316154479E+14 | 1716534000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 161163937074221 | 0 | Massive story | 120210797601370002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716634519 | 1.6116393707422E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438221346_347076918382053_5509872404599054561_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=xEfLB3FGf5EQ7kNvgEXSRAt&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBVfEWdXza48VKEksBlhOthxt-3CmtlZwjwj1NS-gWRCg&oe=667E781D | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438240590_982215810240924_7779339330704555568_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=DzUqohAlsHYQ7kNvgGcqdk7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC5xOqT22HGW5FiPcyPXDYVf1so0RJOFjFiY6VVz7wg4w&oe=667E8160 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 669 | https://facebook.com/61552493980605 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716361200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889155 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 487809953680999 | 1 | 4.4976407109403E+14 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889163 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188486 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 519187267245304 | 1 | 1.0051306510544E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 1 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120214678481950348 | shgjfh.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://shgjfh.com/market/meganovel/13?lpid=12141&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1719041568 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578825_1761597191034450_6820893542952740176_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=NJV56nC3D-oQ7kNvgGkdep7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDs32tV0pcc2KJr6f08qQSajX-JXHo64OHdFCWoDe_QXA&oe=667E868D | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448578146_3349220665373850_8128119136548046629_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=wWrcU1qm21YQ7kNvgHW4bvj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCiNscikPJDZrZKYvKgloJN3F9cJgRXULA_E3iJTZR0BA&oe=667E7DEE | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719039600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889195 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188488 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 832484831570092 | 5 | 4.2934108319284E+14 | 1717311600 | person_profile | taken-down | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 265015680033634 | 0 | Massive story | 120212069533530002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716980906 | 2.6501568003363E+14 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445242698_995588455545077_2405839290899264462_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=HWVDmnxVUSoQ7kNvgFehYkG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDQooVAVlbzSLu45H2u6fUT-J2_5cqju8XVHzgtjdLA_g&oe=667E92CA | person_profile | 0 | Massive story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445241029_971822111193761_3123167495825798227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ttR03azjaDgQ7kNvgG86X1X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAXU32U_qRUZfkX9ihBOZrs_i_gru3hwGUIRjM0to_f-w&oe=667E8FC2 | 0 | 3 | I had never seen Felix like this - fury was written all over his face, and his lanky figure was trembling slightly. I've known Felix since we were born. Our mothers were best friends and they were trying to pair us up again just now. I had a crush on him, and he always treated me kindly. But now, he glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around! That's why they misunderstood! Stay away from me!" I hadn't expected him to say something like that. I stared at him dumbfounded. Both my parents and Felix's parents ceased their conversation about our wedding and future. Felix wasn't done yet. "Who gave you guys the right to make my life decisions for me? I'm my own man. I'll never marry her, so you all can just stop trying to pair us up!" Felix shouted as he glared at everyone in the house. His eyes were filled with hate. It made me want to curl up into a ball out of embarrassment. The house remained completely silent. Everyone's gaze was on me, and I could feel my heart throbbing in pain. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. He had trampled all over my dignity and self-worth in front of his whole family and mineโฆ My father, usually calm, flushed crimson at Felix's harsh words, his fists clenched. Mom, too, looked angry and embarrassed, jaw agape, her expression one of disbelief. Uncle Austin, Felix's father, slapped Felix, scolding, "You rebellious boy! Who taught you to behave like that?" The impact of slap sent Felix reeling, and he hit his head on the corner of the wall. Felix slumped to the floor in pain, leaving an unmistakable streak of red on the white walls. Aunt Mel rushed forward with concern, "Felix, my son! Are you alright?" Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I had committed an unspeakable crime. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. I stared back at him with wide eyes, tears streaming down my face and onto the floor. Even though I liked him, that didn't mean he could throw wild accusations and embarrass me as he pleased! I liked him, but I, too, had my sense of dignity! If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I would gladly change! "I'm sorry, Felix. I never thought that my actions would have bugged you so much," I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." I bit my lip hard, and the sharp tang of blood exploded across my tongue. I, Luna Lawson, also swear to myself - I won't endure the same humiliation AGAIN! | Massive story | 0 | https://facebook.com/61557833926946 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717052400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889622 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188547 | 1723678830 | 1026 | 3257834227858415 | 1 | 3.7757143170999E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 113222160318026 | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | 120210481180440370 | servallpestcontrol.com | Contact Us | NONE | carousel | Protect Your Home With Proper Drainage | Expert gutter solutions! | https://www.servallpestcontrol.com/ | 1710166404 | 1.1322216031803E+14 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431186519_1112968813354192_4278728201242244015_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=jBpsh-Jct2kQ7kNvgF34oMG&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCkgNL3X97KQAOV0Z33Ur3L_XO6JBJbvliImY7XSFW-kg&oe=667E8748 | person_profile | 0 | Servall - Paris, TN | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/431273553_338768775263175_8395586336125006700_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T5ZhE-48RVgQ7kNvgGvjaI7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCU3S3Q56ELh9w-7AXW_1LhgwZ72_vQdKZ51OtAutV7xg&oe=667E9548 | 0 | 3 | Expert gutter solutions! | Servall - Paris, TN | 641 | https://facebook.com/ServallParis | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1710572400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889249 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188494 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1123587355422972 | 1 | 7.6990506525411E+14 | 1718089200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889328 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188504 | 1723678831 | 1026 | 1528757277739599 | 1 | 1.0133041869692E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889359 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188508 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 1938923123227480 | 1 | 3.4442133201034E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120212928768730170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717757425 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959759_1311554859802432_4227718076479884991_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XgRwM3i2NgYQ7kNvgGwW8oT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBD_JvrCEoZloDnbZl4ThQAwQeyGPgo1m-TzfEme9bUWA&oe=667E841D | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447959270_7187349571370885_4976612476689122460_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=3lXj_7Mi940Q7kNvgG65SPd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBmGADhdm66ijfmlRzwTPI7OsJUIJ47b4EjifsbZHs5kw&oe=667E91D5 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718607600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889375 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188511 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 7599646173405331 | 4 | 8.1189217383301E+14 | 1716793200 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716274800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889387 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889391 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188513 | 1723678832 | 1026 | 8305212979503158 | 1 | 3.7390196097142E+15 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 273913162469522 | 0 | New world publications | 120213126246240170 | wwwedb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://wwwedb.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11782&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718544661 | 2.7391316246952E+14 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448372371_791093506150888_4417304710059079867_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=6ZG9SnX5ZLMQ7kNvgGz-onq&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDHuavSz8vhVyuWLOJBeMTCICqfKF1YVKUStz_V9ZbfcA&oe=667E8519 | person_profile | 0 | New world publications | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448472236_984201076290536_3337080476555443467_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=C0PDK_nN5jYQ7kNvgGwUhzd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBY_xaUaYqhBm_So94dK5ZRqwVPPvLegcDeXbxu25HVhg&oe=667E9F74 | 0 | 3 | The clearing of a throat makes me jump. I thought I was alone. Leaning forward, I see a handsome man sitting in a chair. A foot propped up on his knee as he nurses a glass of alcohol. His short hair is dark and his eyes are a deep crimson colour, that donโt quite look right. They suddenly shift to me and I throw myself back against the door. Shrinking down to the ground. โIs this the way you greet all Alphaโs?โ His deep voice rumbles through the room, an edge of amusement to his tone. โIโm sorry.โ I whisper, getting to my feet. โIโฆI thought I was alone.โ I had no idea who he was but I could feel the power radiating off of him, even without my Wolf. โCome forward.โ He orders. Alpha Trey was going to kill me. I do as Iโm told. Allowing him to see me properly and I am met with narrowed crimson eyes. I close my own eyes, expecting the worst. โYou smell funny. Yet you are a Wolf, correct?โ My head moved up and down, though I couldnโt tell how he was going to react. Most laughed when they discovered the truth about me. โI would prefer it if you spoke to me.โ He growls, โIโm not in the mood to play games.โ โYes.โ I whisper. โI amโฆI am a Wolf.โ I couldnโt help but think of all the punishments I was going to have to endure. A whipping maybe? Starvation for another week? I wasnโt sure how much more my body could take. โHow is it possible for you to not know I was in the room? You should have scented me.โ โIโฆ..โ I hated the question. โI havenโt got all day!โ He takes a swig from his drink. I knew why I couldnโt scent him. I knew why I hadnโt been aware of his presence, but telling people why was not something I ever liked to do. They never hear my side of the story. All they do is accept Alpha Trey's word as the truth. โYou should open your eyes when you are talking to someone. Has your Alpha not taught you anything?โ His deep voice sends a shiver through me. Slowly, I open my eyes and lower them. There was no way I was making direct eye contact. โMy Wolf abilities were bound.โ โWhy?โ If this is the Alpha that my brother is supposed to be meeting with, I knew I could screw everything up for him by saying too much. โIt was a punishment.โ โFor what?โ โFor killing my parents.โ | New world publications | 17 | https://facebook.com/61557831245498 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718521200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889422 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 459835549897918 | 1 | 8.1371474369554E+14 | 1717398000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 144939265372419 | 0 | Indulge in story | 120212123041180002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1717156295 | 1.4493926537242E+14 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447188158_427615253376044_1467412671752920547_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=haUZ-sGt8jEQ7kNvgFJX1VN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCVjplAAdxDg3M7R-bi-TKHoGIq-jbs0wrylQhBOP9wDA&oe=667E98C3 | person_profile | 0 | Indulge in story | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447187806_1591240261718800_9124110637169545735_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=PU4x0nyX8DYQ7kNvgFsaMm_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBvsCHbz7qM8MfWquFQT9AuWINbRW5ULyu6j_JEiW-NbA&oe=667E8298 | 0 | 3 | My crush actually flipped the table and humiliated me in front of our whole family! During dinner, everyone was engaged in an enthusiastic discussion about my wedding to Felix. I've known Felix since we were born. I liked himโa lot, and he's always been nice and gentle to me. So I was stunned when he suddenly erupted. He shot to his feet and glared at me, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around!โ In that instant, the room turned dead silent. I could feel the blood rush to my head, making my face flush and my ears ring. I have never seen Felix like this. His words were no different from a stinging slap in my face, and he had done it right in front of everyone. Tears welled up in my eyes, and it felt as if my breath had caught in my throat, making it hard for me to breathe. "Felix, I..." But he wasn't done yet. "If it weren't for you shamelessly pestering me all the time, they wouldn't try to pair us up!" I forced myself to suppress the hurt I felt and tried to reason with him. "Felix, listen to me. I just likeโ" "Don't call me that. I hate it when you call my name. Keep your feelings to yourself and leave me be. I don't need your affection. "In fact, they're nothing more than shackles to me. I don't want to be associated with you in any wayโnot ever," Felix interrupted. His words were venomous, and his eyes were filled with a cold hatred that made me shiver. It was like he was looking at a piece of trash. My heart ached, and I found myself gasping for breath. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet in the end, it was all my fault? My eyes were filled with tears, but I bit my lip hard to prevent my tears from falling. I didn't do anything wrong, so I couldn't allow myself to cry. He shouldn't have allowed me to get caught up in my presumptuous thoughts and feelings about our relationship, only to accuse me of shamelessly clinging to him. I was not shameless. I just loved him. If loving him was a crime and the reason why he thought he could humiliate me, then I swore I would make him regret it! | Indulge in story | 619 | https://facebook.com/61552702618591 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1717225200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889426 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188514 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 1674901933251031 | 1 | 1.3730294167281E+15 | 1716966000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 342924965562549 | 0 | Random Reading | 120211964994730002 | ocankn.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://ocankn.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=10463&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1716635684 | 3.4292496556255E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/445179828_1231353154512704_2683978688725298454_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=J8-1YJwG0tMQ7kNvgG8gODC&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYB0es-TSlU5iAElCODsMN8Mm6dnAE1gAXEG7nRpapnjYA&oe=667E9944 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/444167427_431984266361305_92450316753065691_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Z6Uly0yiR2UQ7kNvgFF4nqR&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBByeddrz__EV0URb4eAF6OPr7UBYSj93jZSmPcRgMmsg&oe=667E965B | 0 | 3 | I am Luna Lawson, and Felix White is my neighbor. From the moment we were born, the elders in our families had us engaged to one another. I've been sure of one thing my whole lifeโI'm Felix's future wife. Ever since I could walk on my own, I shadowed him wherever he went. Ever since I could speak, the word that I said the most was his name. Ever since I understood what love was, he took root in my heart, and my feelings for him kept growing. I liked himโa lot. However, that was just my own opinion, and Felix had a mind of his own. By the time we turn 18, at a family dinner party at his house, our mothers were discussing our marriage when he suddenly shot to his feet. He glared at me and spat, "This is all your fault. You're constantly following me around, but I can't say or do anything about it! Stay away from me! Stop following me around! I will never marry you!" In that instant, the room turned dead silent. His words were no different from accusing me of being a shameless simp, and he had done it right in front of everyone. His angry father then gave him a loud slap, sending him slumping to the floor. Felix shot me a scathing glare as if I was the sinner. "Are you happy now, Luna?" he spat. 18 years. We spent every day together for 18 years. He was my world, and I gave him everything. Yet, all I got was humiliation. I forced the humiliation down as I continued, "I, Luna Lawson, swear that from this moment onward, I will never bother you again, Felix." ... One year later, he brings a young lady to me. He gives her a tender and loving gaze, saying, "This is my girlfriend, Lily." I say, "Okay." Later, Felix says, "Lulu, Lili says she feels insecure because you've remained single this whole time." And so, I start dating Felix's older brother, Colin White. At first, I think he's pure of heart and free from desire, but after we get together, he starts seducing me with everything he's got. I try to flee, but he chases after me. When I get mad, he coaxes me. He laughs when I scold him and feeds me when I'm hungry. He also holds me when I'm cold โฆ I tell him, "Colin, stay away from me. It's so hot." He locks me in his embrace and smiles devilishly. "Be good. Let me give you another kiss." | Random Reading | 12 | https://facebook.com/61559743679549 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716706800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889466 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188523 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 350229604734306 | 16 | 9.8242705956723E+14 | 1715324400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120211846693390779 | qweasdzxconline.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Read the next chapters๐ | https://qweasdzxconline.com/market/goodnovel/1?lpid=11090&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715085862 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/438129100_1146045226739178_2601865360875538189_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5Nz6Pe0GKGIQ7kNvgElB7EP&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYA4f6O40mDbEZYKLbHOUd4mwxXn9llaNa3kG2Y7oSqJfg&oe=667E8210 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/440747644_315502774915635_6353252339687881796_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=QkGCOmvorn8Q7kNvgGS_fxv&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAqxujEEBs2VI040FYQpJMAY26VWFOBM1U5iq8MymRpww&oe=667EA917 | 0 | 3 | ๐"Ned Fletcher, with how you're treating Angie right now, aren't you worried that you're going to regret it when you finally regain your memories one day? You loved her so much before and you two got married for love! Despite you forgetting your feelings about her, how could you post so many indecent photos of her on social media?" Ned spoke nonchalantly, saying, "Why are you still holding me hostage with morals and principles? She was the one who framed me by lowly methods. I was just warning her. If Ingrid hadn't asked me to stop, I'd have gone even further! By the way, show your respect to Ingrid. Sheโs not a new girl but my only one forever and never!" Angeline Emmerson heard the talk standing outside the door. She used to be treated ever so lovingly by Ned in the past. Angeline felt her eyes reddening and filling with tears. The Ned she knew had died in the car accident that happened four years ago. The one inside was merely a stranger! Angeline inhaled deeply. Then, she pushed the door open. Ned looked up and saw her entering. "Who brought you here?" Angeline stared at Ned and said, "I've already made a police report regarding your spiked drink at the event and your spreading of my photos for revenge." Hearing this, everyone's reactions differed from one another. Angeline continued, "Ned Fletcher, it's true that I wanted to try rekindling our relationship, but I would never have stooped so low as to do those disgusting things to you. I didn't want to let go of this relationship because I was worried that the Ned I knew would return someday and blame me for giving up on him so easily," Angeline placed the divorce agreement she'd been hugging onto the table. "I tried my best, but I'm tired now. Ned Fletcher, I'm giving up on you. I don't want you anymore." Ned's eyes traveled from the divorce agreement to Angeline's face. There was a hint of surprise in his cold eyes. "Let's finalize the divorce after the police have cleared my name and you have publicly apologized to me." | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715151600 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889496 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188530 | 1723678833 | 1026 | 860667062769440 | 1 | 8.1469043075882E+14 | 1718866800 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939286670281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701049 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448532876_6863828987053200_81788226258750260_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=oTyYHG8vuGgQ7kNvgHRmvn7&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYDBUA0yjmDUygxBhEfajx3Nv0uYuiMajmqvOM1uRDV5FA&oe=667E7211 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448508608_821917120034098_3572574305109354830_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=k0OziBz7V6sQ7kNvgE2yjxN&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBXV5qikiUWRA1ZrSvdVuhnXHt9vFF4qG97ZJyoKpe1Zg&oe=667E8C10 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889532 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188534 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1212476283516045 | 1 | 1.5137362995613E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 293322843875249 | 0 | Random Reading | 120209939283060281 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐๐ฅ Continuer la lecture โคโค | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=12040&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1718701039 | 2.9332284387525E+14 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448693363_1017362403082467_3855070539023925063_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Q_9lwKJ-hXwQ7kNvgGqpgeM&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDcKD_P5jhj_g63txigtluIr-ElGRTg20HDHTrVumaipw&oe=667E7F51 | person_profile | 0 | Random Reading | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448640705_483765680996688_2130998908484996175_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4nQp94Jzk84Q7kNvgGPPr10&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC3fwKXrbVM4hpUCDT4JJhoILsOBHg-_rZ96q-ilsrQTA&oe=667E80C1 | 0 | 3 | โAre you thinking about my brother again?โ New Alpha Jasperโs voice cut through the stillness of the room, dragging me from the edge of sleep. The sight of mate made my heart race, a mix of fear and longing. His tone was playful, but the tension in his posture betrayed his anger. His brother, Elias, was the rightful heir to the pack, he had been my boyfriend until his death. He was a kind-hearted soul without a wolf, and that made him easy prey for Jasper, who seized power after their fatherโs sudden demise. In addition to the alpha position, he took more than just power from Elias. Fate is a cruel mistress. After he kicked Elias out of the pack and cut ties with me, I found out that Jasper was my mate. Now, on the anniversary of that tragic day, the weight of my memories was almost too much to bear. Now, I canโt control myself. I had to speak out. I rolled over to face him, my heart sinking at the sight of his piercing green eyes, dark with suspicion. โWhat if I was? I do miss him.โ I asked flippantly. Jasperโs jaw tightened. His playful demeanor shifted instantly. He crossed the room in a few powerful strides and stood at the edge of my bed. His presence was overwhelming, and I felt a familiar, unwelcome heat rising within me. โIris,โ he growled. โYou should know better.โ โElias was better than you in every way,โ I snapped, unable to keep the bitterness out of my voice. โEven without his wolf, he was more of a leader than you could ever be.โ Jasperโs eyes flashed with fury, and in an instant, his hand was around my neck, his knee forcing my legs apart. He leaned in close, his breath hot on my neck. โWatch your tongue, my dear mate. You are speaking to your Alpha. Your little lover is long gone, and donโt you ever forget that.โ My pulse quickened, a confusing blend of fear, anger, and want. โYou will always be a pathetic nobody,โ I spat. โWith or without him.โ Jasperโs face darkened with rage, but he controlled himself, a dangerous smile surfaced. โElias is gone,โ he whispered, his breath tickling my ear. Suddenly he crushed his mouth against mine, his kiss so powerful and insistent I tasted my own blood. Despite myself, my body responded. The bond between us was undeniable, a cruel joke played by the moon goddess. His movements set my skin aflame, and I hated myself for wanting him. This man had taken everything from me, and yet here I was, craving him, needing him. Suddenly, my back hit the bed, familiar breathing tickles my neck. My anger warred with the fire he ignited in me, and I couldnโt resist giving in to him. His hands cover me, possessive and demanding. I couldnโt stop the sounds that escaped. Jasper smiled when he heard it. โYou canโt deny what we are to each other,โ he whispered, his voice rough with need. โNo matter how much you want to hate me.โ โI do hate you,โ I managed to say, though the breathlessness in my voice betrayed me. He chuckled darkly. โHate me all you want, Iris,โ he said sensually. โIt wonโt change a thing.โ But I couldnโt escape the memories of Elias. He had such gentle hands, such kind eyes. He loved me softly without all the violence and domination that Jasper brought. Eliasโs hands had always moved over me with reverence, his fingers trailing lightly over my skin as if I were something precious. He adored me, and I worshiped him. His kisses had been tender, each one a silent vow of love and devotion. Jasper was different. He was possessive, demanding. He claimed me with rough, urgent hands that left bruises in their wake. His face crashed against mine with a hunger that bordered on violence, leaving no room for softness or tenderness. His teeth grazed my skin, leaving marks to show the world that I was his and his alone. I tried to hold on to the memories of Elias, to the way he had made me feel cherished and loved. I tried, but I failed. They slipped away with each brutal movement, every bruising kiss. Guilt twisted in my gut; a sharp, bitter ache that mingled with the physical pleasure Jasper gave me. Tears of anguish slipped down my cheeks, unnoticed by Jasper in his enjoyment. His hands gripped me tightly, his fingers digging passively into my flesh as he moved. The bed creaked under our combined weight, the sound a harsh counterpoint to the soft sounds that escaped me. Jasperโs eyes were dark with possessiveness, his face twisted in a mixture of triumph and desire as he watched me beneath him. โLook at you,โ he breathed, โyou canโt get enough, can you?โ I wanted to deny it, to scream that he was wrong, but the words caught in my throat. My body betrayed me, responding to his words even as my heart cried out for Elias. His movement became more frenzied, that left me gasping. โThatโs it,โ he growled. โYouโre mine, Iris. Donโt you ever forget that.โ His pace quickened, his breath growing ragged. My nails dug into his shoulders, leaving red marks in his skin as I clung desperately to him. The room seemed to spin, my world narrowing to the brutal, unrelenting rhythm of him against me. The pleasure washing over me in a wave that left me trembling. For a moment, we lay there, our bodies entwined, the only sound was our labored breathing. Jasperโs weight pressed down on me, grounding me in the present even as my mind drifted to the past. When he finally rolled off me, I turned away, curling into a ball. The dull throb matched the pain in my heart. Jasperโs hand brushed my hair back from my face, his touch surprisingly gentle. โIris,โ he said softly, but I didnโt respond. I couldnโt. The word lodged in my throat, a tangled knot of sorrow and longing. He didnโt finish his sentence, getting up from the bed and dressing quickly. I watched him silently. He walked to the door before turning around. โOh, by the way,โ he said casually, as if discussing the weather, โI plan on rejecting you on Friday. Just a heads up.โ The words hung in the air, sharp as a blade. Chapter 2 Future Jasperโs words stung, but I was used to his cruelty. His announcement shouldnโt have been a surprise. He loved to taunt me. And the only reason he hadnโt rejected me sooner was that I served as his useful prop, showcasing his supposed kindness and benevolence as the new Alpha. Rejecting me, his mate, wouldnโt have looked good as an new alpha to the pack, although I was the girlfriend of the former rightful heir. But now his reign was secure. And he could do whatever he wanted. I should have felt triumphant, knowing that soon I would be free from his oppressive grasp, but the reality was far more complicated. I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My mind scolded itself for being so overwhelmed with emotions. I shouldnโt feel as shocked and betrayed as I did. I shouldnโt feel anything at all. He took my parents and Elias. I should hate him. I really shouldnโt have been surprised he had decided to reject me now. I should have known that was what he wanted. Behind the flirting and the occupying, he didnโt want me. There was someone else. And I knew that. As if summoned by my thoughts, Naomi burst into my room, her eyes blazing with jealousy and rage. I hurried to cover myself, using the blankets on the bed, but she was too angry to notice or care. She stood by my bed, towering over me as if trying to assert her dominance, but she only succeeded in looking like an angry cat. โHe was here again, wasnโt he?โ she demanded, her voice sharp. I sighed, too caught up in my emotions to give her any kind of reaction. โHe is the Alpha,โ I said, keeping my voice calm and even. โHe comes and goes as he pleases.โ Naomi did not like that answer. Her hand struck my face with a sharp crack, the force of it turning my head to the side. I felt the familiar sting and the burn of tears that I refused to shed. Naomi crossed her arms, her eyes alight with hatred. But still, I did not have the energy to react. โYou think you can win his heart with your body?โ She shouted, her voice echoing in my ears. โHe is mine. He will always be mine. You are a toy! He will be bored of you soon enough!โ She never forgave me for being Jasperโs mate. Even though it was nobodyโs fault. We used to be best friends, growing up together as the daughters of the pack Beta and Gamma. I met her eyes. Even after all this, I didnโt see her as anything but a hurt friend. I couldnโt bring myself to hate her in return. I missed her. She was fierce, but kind. We used to be sisters in all but blood. We had even dreamed of mending the rift between Jasper and Elias as their better halves. But everything changed after my 20th birthday when the bond between Jasper and me was revealed. I hadnโt meant to hurt her. Not after everything she did for me. She saved me from banishment after Jasper usurped the throne. Her father had helped Jasper, but my parents had died protecting Elias. She was there for me when I cried for them. But after my birthdayโฆ her kindness turned to cold hatred. The sisterhood we once shared was shattered. And I was alone. Still, I couldnโt hate her. I couldnโt even be angry. I could only take whatever abuse she lay down. I felt I owed her that much. The sound of approaching footsteps broke through my thoughts, and I looked up sharply. Jasper entered the room, his presence overwhelming. Naomi immediately threw herself to the floor, crying out as if I had attacked her. โShe pushed me for no reason!โ Naomi cried, the fake tears already dripping down her cheeks. Her voice was filled with fake innocence, and her eyes were wide and tearful. In an instant, Jasper was across the room. He picked Naomi up from the floor, cradling her in his arms. His expression hardened as he checked her for injuries, and he turned to look at me with cold disdain. He could have shouted at me. He could have yelled or scolded me for the supposed offense. But he didnโt. He knew that wouldnโt hurt me. So he did something much worse. โThere is something I forgot to tell you about the rejection,โ he said, his voice low and icy. โNaomiโs coronation as Luna will be the same day. You will serve as her omega maid in the coronation after the rejection.โ He looked down at Naomi with a sickeningly loving gaze, brushing a wisp of hair from her face. โThen you can punish her whenever you want, my dear,โ he whispered loud enough for me to hear. He kissed her softly. It looked so different from how he kissed me. It looked so loving. He knew what he was doing. He knew the pain I was going to experience. I couldnโt even process it. All I could think about was how much he looked like Elias. The love in Jasperโs eyes as he looked at Naomi shook me. He looked so much like the gentle and passionate Elias. I thought about how Elias had looked at me the same way. Jasper had taken that from me. Naomiโs eyes gleamed with triumph as she nestled into Jasperโs arms. He walked out without another word or glance in my direction, but Naomi peered over his shoulder at me with an ominous expression. I let myself fall into the bed, trembling. Only when the door was closed did I allow myself to fall apart. Jasper had officially taken everything from me. My parents were gone. My love was gone by his hand. My future was in ruins. My innocence was destroyed. And now, I was to be reduced to a servant, humiliated in front of the pack I once belonged to. I would be no better than a slave on a leash. The rejection would strip away the last remnants of my connection to Elias, severing the bond that had been my only solace. And the thought of serving Naomi, being at her spiteful mercy, was almost too much to bear. But I would bear it. I would endure. I had to. I had no choice. Chapter 3 Mates The next day, the sun was beginning to rise as I stood in Naomiโs lavishly decorated room. Golden rays filtered through the sheer curtains, casting a warm glow on the ornate furniture and the array of dresses sprawled across the bed. I was helping Naomi with the dress she was going to wear in her coronation ceremony. The fabric was soft and luxurious, a deep shade of emerald that complemented her striking features. As Naomi slipped into the dress, she admired her figure in the mirror, her eyes gleaming with pride and anticipation. She turned to get a better look, her smile widening. While she admired herself, my mind couldnโt help but slip to the past. Memories of our childhood together, of the times we were inseparable, flooded my thoughts. The mischievous adventures, the laughter, and the bond we once shared felt like a lifetime ago. โHey! Where is your head at? Your Luna needs some help here!โ Naomiโs voice snapped me back to the present. She looked at me petulantly, her arms crossed, the smile replaced by a slight frown. โSorry,โ I mumbled, stepping forward to help her with the intricate details of her dress. As I adjusted the delicate lace around her shoulders and fastened the tiny buttons, I could feel the old closeness resurfacing. Despite everything, the connection we had was undeniable. While helping with her crown, I canโt help feeling close to her again. The crown was heavy, encrusted with jewels that sparkled in the morning light. It symbolized power, authority, and a future that Naomi was eagerly stepping into. I placed it gently on her head, making sure it was perfectly aligned. โDo you remember when we were kids?โ I asked softly, hoping to reach some part of the Naomi I once knew. She glanced at me; her face expressionless. โI do,โ she replied. โWe were quite the troublemakers.โ I nodded, encouraged by her words. โWe had fun back then,โ I said. โEverything was simpler.โ Naomiโs face hardened and she snapped, โThose days are gone, Iris. Iโve grown up. I had to.โ โI know,โ I whispered. Then, feeling brave, I added, โBut I miss the girl you used to be. That girl laughed and cared about others.โ Naomi whirled around to face me fully, her eyes cold and unyielding. โThat girl was weak. She didnโt understand what it takes to lead, to survive.โ โIs that why you hate me?โ I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. Naomiโs eyes flashed with anger. โHate you? You took everything from me, Iris. Jasper was supposed to be mine, and you stole him.โ I shook my head, tears welling up. โI didnโt steal him. I wasnโt something I had control over. You know that.โ โControl?โ Naomi spat. โThatโs what it is all about. And now, I have it. I have the power to make my own choices. And as for you, Iris, donโt think for a second that Iโve forgotten what you did. I will enjoy watching you suffer. Consider it payback for all those years I lived in your shadow.โ The venom in her words struck me like a blow. I had known Naomi was angry, bitter even, but this level of hatred was beyond what I had imagined. I looked into her eyes, searching for any hint of the friend I once knew, but all I saw was a stranger. โI donโt want to do this,โ I said weakly. โI just want my friend back.โ She laughed, a cold, mirthless sound. โYour friend?โ She asked, as if the words were strange to her. โThat girl is gone, Iris. And what you see now is what I have become, what I had to become. You can either accept it or suffer the consequences.โ I couldnโt leave it there. I had to ask one last question. โYou never told me, who is your mate?โ Naomiโs eyes flickered with an emotion I couldnโt quite place. She was a few months younger than me, so when she got her wolf, I was already Jasperโs mate. โHe is gone,โ Naomi said. She looked at me in the mirror with a dangerous smirk. I blinked, trying to process her words. โGone?โ I asked. โWhat do you mean?โ โI asked Jasper to get rid of him as soon as I found out who he was,โ she said nonchalantly, examining her nails. โHe is not my mate. He is only an obstacle standing between me and my true happiness.โ I was shocked. The weight of her words settled heavily on me. โNaomi, how could you?โ I asked, shaking my head in disbelief. She shrugged, her eyes cold and detached. โHe was nothing to me,โ she explained, โJust a name, a face. My destiny is far greater than being tied to someone who would hold me back.โ I couldnโt handle it anymore. A wave of nausea hit me, and I started to dry-heave. The room spun around me, and I grasped the edge of the vanity to steady myself. Naomiโs face turned white and then red with anger as I covered my mouth, gagging up spit. She stepped closer, her voice low and threatening. โDonโt play any games, Iris. You know even if you are bearing Jasperโs child, it wonโt change a thing. Besides, I wonโt let it happen. Chapter 4 The Rejection Today is the coronation day of Naomi, and I was waiting in my room for Jasper to come and reject me. My heart pounded and it was getting harder and harder to breath. I paced back and forth, unable to stand still. My bedroom, usually a place of comfort, felt like a prison today. I could hear the sounds of bustling activity, preparations for Naomiโs big day underway. The grandeur of the occasion was lost on me, overshadowed by the impending rejection. โIt is for the best,โ I said to my wolf, Molly. โMy life will be more livable after the rejection,โ I said, trying to convince myself of the truth of my words. โNaomiโs resentment is only misguided. I can try and get her to trust me again after. At least I would have her back. And if I am to work as her servant, making amends would make my life easier in that regard.โ My wolf whimpered, her sadness mirroring my own. โI know, Molly,โ I said, sitting on the edge of my bed. โItโs justโฆ this bond with Jasper has become too heavy a burden to bear. Maybeโฆ maybe it is better this way.โ Just then, the door creaked open, and Jasper walked into the room. Jasper was dressed impeccably, his black suit highlighting his strong, commanding presence. His eyes, however, were void of the warmth they once held for me. They were cold, detached, a stark reminder of the gulf that had grown between us. โLetโs just get it over with,โ he said, his voice devoid of any emotion. The words cut through me. After all of this, I wasnโt even worth a few minutes of his time. I was just something to cross off his checklist. Even though I was in pain, I forced myself to remain stoic. โSure,โ I answered, matching his tone. My voice was flat, empty, reflecting the hollowness I felt inside. But then, something in Jasperโs expression changed. His eyes softened, and a hint of a smirk played at the corners of his mouth. โYou know, if you beg nicely, I can put you in a cute little houseโฆโ The suggestion was both insulting and infuriating. I squared my shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. โNo need,โ I said quickly. โI am fine being Naomiโs maid.โ His smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. โYou despite me, donโt you?โ he said, pulling off his perfectly knotted tie with a sharp, frustrated movement. I didnโt answer, my silence speaking volumes. The truth was, I didnโt despite him. Even now, I still couldnโt. I despised the situation, and the circumstances that had led us here. But before I could speak, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my hands firmly. His grip was firm, almost bruising, as he pulled my hands over my head. The intensity in his eyes both terrifying and magnetic. His forceful and demanding kiss left no room for hesitation. The kiss was the culmination of our pent-up anger and frustration, a desperate attempt to reclaim something that had long been lost. His hands swimming, and I responded by tangling my hands in his hair, pulling him closer. His suit jacket was the first to go, hitting the floor with a soft thud. My hands moved to the buttons of his shirt, fumbling in my haste. One by one, they gave way, revealing him slowly. His eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of me. For a brief moment, the anger seemed to melt away, replaced by a raw, unfiltered hunger. He traveled lower, kissing, and I shivered in anticipation. I was completely vulnerable now at his mercy. But I wanted this, I needed it more than I could express. The sensations were overwhelming. โJasper,โ I gasp, tugging at his hair. He pulled back, his eyes meeting mine with a predatory gleam. We moved in perfect sync, a dance of passion and desperation. I felt the pressure building, a tight coil in me ready to snap. Jasperโs movements became erratic, his breath coming in harsh pants. The wave crashed over me, leaving me breathless and trembling. Jasper collapsed beside me as he caught his breath. I lay there, staring at the ceiling. For a brief moment, everything else faded away. I thought of Elias. Here, about to be rejected, desperately needing Jasperโฆ I thought of Elias. Jasper shot out of the bed without warning, looking at me with anger and maybe a little hurt in his eyes. โIโm glad that I am going to be done with you and this stupid betrayal pain,โ he spat, his voice laced with bitterness. The realization hit me. Now I knew why he never failed to show up at the worst of times. โDonโt.โ He cuts me off when I try to say something. He stopped me from saying anything further, his hands raised in a silent plea. The rejection ceremony began, the ancient words of separation flowing out of him. I spoke in a shaky voice but said them as well. The breaking of the mate bond was excruciating. It felt like a part of my soul was being ripped away. The pain was so intense, so overwhelming, that I passed out. As consciousness slipped away, I felt a warm liquid on my legs. Panic surged through me, but I was too weak to move. My last thought before darkness claimed me was a single, horrifying realization. It was blood. I have just begun to feel a subtle vitality in my body few days ago. Now this vitality has turned into deathly silence. Could it be... Chapter 5 The Coronation I woke up to someone rocking me violently. The world around me was a blur, and my head throbbed with pain. โWake up! The coronation is about to start! Naomi is waiting for you!โ The voice was urgent, insistent, pulling me out of the darkness. My vision slowly cleared, and I recognized one of Naomiโs attendants, her face pinched with annoyance. When she left, I struggled to sit up, aching from the aftermath of the rejection. I glanced down and found blood on my legs, a stark reminder of what happened. My heart ached, not just from the physical pain but from the realization of what I had lost. My wolf, Molly, was quieter than usual, her sadness mirroring my own. โWe could have had a lovely little puppy.โ I heard her painful whispering. The bond with Jasper, once a source of strength and joy, had been brutally severed, leaving us both wounded. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I forced myself to freshen up, washing away the traces of blood and tears. The reflection in the mirror showed a pale, haunted face, but there was no time to dwell on it. Naomi needed me. Despite everything, I still had to fulfill my duties. I dressed quickly and made my way to Naomiโs room. Naomi looked at me with worry as I entered the room, her eyes briefly softening. But then she quickly masked it with condescending pity. โWell, well, well. I guess you took the rejection pretty hard there I see,โ she said, her voice dripping with false concern. I didnโt say anything, my silence a shield against her taunts. The pain was too fresh, too raw to respond. The coronation of the new Lune in our pack was a monumental event, attracting every powerful Alpha on the continent along with their Lunas. The grand hall was filled with people, the air buzzing with anticipation. Even the recently reappeared Lycan King had answered the invitation, his presence adding to the gravity of the occasion. The invitation had suggested that the new Luna was going to be me, the new Alphaโs mate and the daughter of the old Beta. So people were shocked when Jasper got up to make his announcement. He radiated authority, the perfect image of an Alpha ready to lead. His dark eyes scanned the room, momentarily resting on me, and I felt a pang of loss. The crowd fell silent as the air filled with expectation. โThe Great Pack,โ Jasper began, addressing them as one. โThank you for coming to this occasion. Today, we mark the beginning of a new era.โ He paused, allowing his words to sink in. There was a murmur of excitement from the crowd, their eyes fixed on him. Jasper had always been a compelling speaker, able to command attention with ease. โAs you all know,โ he continued, โthe position of Luna is one of great importance. It is a role that requires not only strength and wisdom but also the unwavering support of the Alpha.โ He took a breath, his gaze hardening as he said, โBut before I name my new luna, I must inform you that I have rejected my mate.โ Gasps and murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd. My heart pounded, each word a dagger twisting deeper. I stood there, frozen, as Jasperโs declaration shattered the expectations of everyone present. โThis new Luna will be my true love, Naomi,โ Jasper announced, his voice resolute. He gestured towards Naomi, who stood beside him with a victorious smile. โShe is the daughter of a loyal supporter, someone who has stood by me and our pack through thick and thin. Her dedication and commitment are beyond question.โ Naomi stepped forward, her face glowing with pride and satisfaction. She basked in the attention as the guests looked on, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion to pity. โI assure you,โ Jasper continued. โThis decision was made with the best interests of the pack in mind. Naomi and I will lead this pack with strength, wisdom, and a commitment to our shared future.โ The crowd remained silent, absorbing the news. I stared at the ground, standing silently beside the beaming Naomi, accepting the pitying glances of those around me. My heart was heavy, but I kept my head down, determined not to let them see my pain. Naomi beamed, basking in her newfound status. I remained silent as my emotions churned. Just then, Molly alerted me excitedly that my mate was in the crowd. My heart skipped a beat, fear gripping me at the thought that the rejection between me and Jasper hadnโt worked. But Molly reassured me otherwise, her excitement infectious. I scanned the crowd, my eyes searching for the source of Mollyโs enthusiasm. And then, my eyes locked with a man I thought I would never see again. Elias. | Random Reading | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560831098071 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"Rise and shine sleepy head!" A loud voice yelled just inches from my ear. I wince as my ear starts ringing. Being a werewolf had its perks but now I wish advanced hearing wasn't one of them. My eyes shot open, connecting with foresty green and a crooked smile. Bryson Taylor. My best friend and future alpha of the Silver Moon pack. He was kneeled down beside my bed so he'd be same height as me. With his elbows pushing down on my mattress, Bryson chuckled. "Good morning sleepy head." I glared at him furiously, pushing up on my elbow as my other hand reach to touch the wetness I felt on my cheek. I wiped it as I scowled at my grinning best friend. "What did you put on my face?" I asked. Bryson pushed away from my mattress and me entirely as he rises to his feet. Now that he was towering over me with his 6'1 self, he shrugs. "I licked your cheek." I cringe, wiping my now wet palm on my light pink top. "Ew Bryson, would you stop doing that?" Oh who was I kidding? I wasn't at all fazed by a little saliva, especially when it was Bryson's. Bryson shrugged. "That was the only way I could manage to wake you up. Has no one told you, you sleep like a rock? But ye, softer." I rolled my eyes. "Yes, you always never fail to mention it. And that yell by my ear seem to work just fine, I don't think you needed to lick my cheek you weirdo. " Bryson smiled widely, the dimples in his cheeks going on full showcasing mode. I was breathless. Just like I always got when he smiled. Bryson was the epitome of too hot to handle. With his green eyes, sharp jawline, dimples, straight nose, perfect brown curly hair, lean yet muscular build and tall height, it is no wonder every female wolf wanted to be his mate. "You're right, but have I not told you many times before that I just love the taste of your skin?" He raised a brow, smiling down at me. He did, many times he never failed to mention that. It was strange for him to always lick my face and confess that he loved the taste of my skin. But I had grown used to it and secretly liked it. I narrowed my eyes. "And you're still weird for doing it." Bryson shrugs. "My tongue and my taste buds have no complaints. Beside don't pretend you don't like it." He gave me a pointed look that made him see right through me. I tore my eyes away, knowing that he'd see how much I did actually like him licking my cheek. Call me weird, but it was our thing. We were comfortable with each other but still knew our boundaries. " No I don't." I denied and hated that my voice wavered to expose my lie. I wanted to smack myself behind my head, but I didn't want to look crazy in front of Bryson. Speaking of crazy.... My hair must be a total mess. My fingers reach in my dirty blonde hair, tugging slightly at the tangles it caught. "You have something on your face. " Bryson said, drawing my attention back to him with the whipping of my head. "Where?" I asked as I quickly brushed my finger over my cheeks to my mouth. Was it drool? Oh gosh was I drooling? Bryson leans forward, his palms on mattress that dips with his weight. "What's on my face Bryce?" I asked, skimming my fingers over the corner of my lips in such of that drool. What else could it be? Bryson, pulls my hand away from my face, his eyes dropping to my mouth. I held my breath as the air inside the room feels like crackling fire. Or maybe it was the blood in my veins that felt that way. His eyes, they were pools of green and always reminded me of the forest around us. His eyes swam with emotions, yet they didn't stay long enough for me to figure them out. I tried to read them, but he was always good with hiding them away from me. I stared at him fixedly as those pools of green connected themselves on my lips. And then his mouth parts. "This." Without warning his head lowers and his tongue darts out to lick a trail from my chin to my cheek and so close to my mouth. As weird as it sounds, a little part of me wishes he did it on purpose to perhaps get a taste of my mine. But a bigger part of me, the sane and logical part knew that he didn't intend to have made his tongue nearly touch my moist mouth. Bryson jumps away from me, drops my hand and turns around laughing loudly as he runs out of my room. Regaining my composure, I glared at his back as he disappears out the door, leaving it jarred open on purpose knowing I would run after him in three... two...one... I throw the covers off my body and land on my feet in a matter of seconds. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled, feigning anger and annoyance. The cool air whips against the wet trail he left and butterflies flutter in my stomach. He may not know what he does to me but my body knew. Bryson Taylor was my best friend, but I was in love with him. Which was a bad thing. A very very bad thing. Because we were werewolves and on our eighteenth birthday we find our mates. It was not known for an omega to ever be mated to an Alpha. So my chances of us ever being mates were flushed down the drain. One of the reasons why I secretly enjoyed the feel of his saliva on me was that he left his scent. And somehow my crazy mind thought it was his way of marking me. Though we were not mates, and would never be, I could at least enjoy this little weird thing he does until he does find his mate. And I only have few days until I will perhaps no longer have the joy of pretending this was his way of claiming me. Because in a few days, Bryson will turn the age of eighteen. The age he will find his mate. I stormed down the stairs, yelling out his name angrily. I found him in the kitchen with a piece of bacon nearing his slightly parted mouth. When he noticed that I was here, he sent me a crooked grin that showcased his white teeth. "You're so slow Em." He teased, pushing the bacon in his mouth. I glared at Bryson and he only chuckled. I stopped in the doorway and looked at my mother who was preparing breakfast. Her blonde hair similar to mine was whipped into a very high sloppy bun that was on the verge of collapsing. "Morning momma." I said, walking into the kitchen slowly. So why were Bryson and I practically glued by the hip? Sometimes I was wondering this question myself. We have known each other since we were very young, when we were puppies. In fact, from the first day I met him, he never walked out of my life. I don't know when I started to have a different feeling for him, but I still remember that day. - "She's shivering like a scaredy cat! Look at her!" Giovanni and his friends laughed at my expense when I was doing the monkey bars. Giovanni wasn't a higher rank per se but he was ranked higher than I. Since I was the lowest ranked one here and the smallest, he and his friends always picked on me. I thought I could show them how tough I was by doing something they always mocked me I couldn't do.... But it seems that my hands cannot stop sweating and my heart won't stop beating so loudly. I was afraid of heights. Wolves were not supposed to be afraid of anything, yet I was afraid of heights. I felt my fingers slip and felt the harsh cutting on my knees as I fall to the ground. I stayed down on my knees, and in quite a shock I actually fell. I couldn't cry even though I was in pain. "Yeahh!" I heard a loud yell and then laughs from a few distance away. "Shut your mouth!" Then I heard the rattling of the fence as he jumped over it and raced over to me. He sneered at Giovanni who had been laughing at my expense and pushed him roughly until Giovanni fell to the ground. "Mommy!" Giovanni cried, getting to his feet and racing out of there with tears flowing down his cheeks. His friends run after him, calling out his name. I almost giggled because they all looked like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. There and then, I looked at Bryson as my hero but then when he helped me get up and dust myself while smiling down at me, I developed something I was afraid I'd never be able to stop. - "....Emily, I have left some overnight chicken and some rice in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it up for dinner. Can I trust you with that?" Mom teased, turning around to place the frying pan back on the stove. "Don't worry Mrs. Snow, I'll not have her burn your precious house down. You can count on me." Bryson made show of placing his hand on his chest and sent me a wink that may or may not have made my heart leap. Then he dragged me by the hand and pulled me into the car. "For the love of Moon Goddess, Bryson slow down! At this rate, we'll be dead before we even get to school." I yelled as the wind whipped against my dirty blonde locks harshly. Bryson spares me a glance, grins and slows down a bit.....by a bit I mean, barely. "You need to live a little Em. We're werewolves, we won't die so easily." He snorted, turning the steering wheel. The sunlight that peeked from the huge branches above, treasured his face and left me in awe until he turns around to glance at me. I tore my eyes away quickly not wanting to be caught staring. I crossed my arms over my chest and answered. "Doesn't mean we are immortal. Besides, you're an alpha, you're practically almost immortal with those super quick healing. And I'm just an omega practically human, still heal up quick but not quick enough. " I pointed out. I hated mentioning how different we are. Bryson was a leader and I was at the bottom of the food chain. In fact, it was strange for an omega and alpha to be this close. But Bryson never cared about our differences and nor did he care about the judgemental stares from the other pack members. We got a tone of weird looks, especially seeing as I was known as the wolf who couldn't shift. "You're not just an omega Em. You're special." Bryson argued, cutting through my thoughts. His voice held a slight edge. He always hated when I mentioned how different we both were. "You're special to me." He said under his breath with honesty. My heart stops and then leaps again, this time quicker. When he said things like this my stupid heart would think that Bryson meant it in a more than friendly way. But then the logical side of my mind would instantly throw me back a few steps or two by revealing that Bryson was only just trying to make me feel better. Because that's what best friend's are supposed to do. Make the other one feel better. I turned to face the window and stared at the huge endless green trees. They were so tall and their branches were thick. They wouldn't end until a few miles but would start right back again. The sleepy town of Green Hallow....wasn't so sleepy at all. - Bryson shuts the engine and turns to face me, his eyes holding a gleam of mirth and his mouth a bit pouty. I try to not stare at it for too long even though it was a temptation that I have always lost. I keep my eyes on his nose. Because if I were to bring them to his eyes, I'd be a lost in the windows of his soul. "Oh come on, don't tell me you're still annoyed at me?" His lips curved into a playful grin and he chuckled. I raised an eyebrow, and nearly rolled my eyes at his words. "For which part exactly? Is it when you nearly had me go deaf by you yelling close to my ear or driving like a maniac?" I asked sarcastically. I was trying to be as serious as I can but with Bryson, I can never truly remain angry or annoyed at him. It was just impossible. He had that way about him that didn't allow someone to be angry with him. Or maybe it was me who just couldn't for the life of me stay mad at him for too long. He lifts his eyes to the roof of the car and playfully made a clicking sound while shifting his head from side to side. " For both?" His green eyes came back to join mine, only that they were sparkling in mischief while a grin so wide and bright nearly blinded me. They looked deep into my soul and made me shiver. This was one of the reasons I try to avoid staring into his eyes when we were alone. I always end up feeling things I know I shouldn't be feeling. Bryson grins. My stomach does a slight twist and I looked away quickly. Wanting to not have him see my skittish self I snorted out. "Then yes, I'm a hundred percent still annoyed with you." I unbuckled myself and opened the car door. When I was out, I swung the bag strap over my shoulder and looked over the roof of the car when Bryson also gets out. His eyes narrowed as the sun strikes in his eyes. It made his eyes seem gold from where I stood. " Come on Em, you can't stay annoyed at me forever. You know you love me. " He said with a cheesy grin. My heart flips. If only he knew exactly how much those words were actually true. Just more than what he thought. I didn't love him only as a best friend, I loved him as more. I breathed in through my nose and let it out through my mouth. When I am about to respond, a friend of ours joined us. Her face shows off a huge beam, her eyes dancing when they fell on both Bryson and me. She skips towards us, her red hair flipping behind her. She was very beautiful with her wide cocoa eyes and pretty features. I would look like a homeless person standing beside her. Maya throws her arm over my shoulder and hugged me. "I missed you Em." She squealed beside my ear. Was it get Emily deaf day? I wince but hugged her back while my ears rang. Maya was the beta's daughter and would be taking the role of our future beta soon. I met her through Bryson who was already friends with her. At first, she hadn't quite liked me and didn't want my rank to make her look bad. But then after a few greetings here and there, the conversations gradually became longer and funnier until we were practically best friends. "You saw me yesterday." I pointed out. She pulls away and smacks me on the shoulder playfully. "Still way too long to not see your chubby cute little cheeks." She pinches my cheek to show her point. Even though I was petite, I had chubby cheeks that made my face round. Everyone said I look adorable especially when I blush. I smacked her hand away and glared at her playfully. "So no one's going to even include me in the conversation?" Bryson grumbles as he walks over to us. I turn to give him a fake annoyed stare. "No." "Ouch Em, that hurt." He feigned a hurt look by placing his hand over his heart. When he's beside me, Maya darts her eyes between the two of us in curiosity. "Did something happen with you two again? Did Bryson pull a prank Em?" Honestly, her words flew over my head the moment Bryson stepped beside me. His body heat.... My stomach knotted and I gripped my bag strap for an anchor as I try to relax my beating heart. With them being werewolves they'd obviously hear my quickly pounding heart. I didn't want them to question me on something I'd lie about. And obviously, with Bryson knowing me like the back of his hand, he'd know I was lying. Bryson throws his arm over my shoulder and is the first to respond. "Em doesn't like fast rides, I'd make sure to remember that in the future. Apparently, my girl likes it slow. Don't you Em?" He teased and squeezed me to him and looks down at me. I lift my head and our eyes connected quickly. My heart races and I'm not sure I can actually hide the fact that I'm getting flushed. My girl... Bryson's tone was heavy with a tease, but there was something in his eyes while he stares at me that made my heart leap. I sat down on one of the chairs around the lunch table and dug into my burger. I was hungry and moaned aloud. "Don't make that sound again Em," Bryson grunted a bit when he sat down on one of the chairs beside mine. I furrow my brows and turn to him. His eyes fall to my lips and they darken. I'm stunned by how dark they've become. "You have something on the corner of your..." He trails off and before I can wipe whatever was on my lips, Bryson reached out and brushed his finger on the corner of my mouth. My eyes fall to his finger and I feel the heat crawl up my neck and settle in my cheeks when I noticed that the tip of his finger was painted with mayo. With a smirk, Bryson lifted his finger and pushed it in his mouth and, sucked. He moaned. And my heart leaped. When he was done, he grinned at me and teased. "You're such a messy eater." This time the heat took over my entire face. I was certain I looked so red that everyone could spot me from afar. Bryson chuckled and was about to say something when someone else plopped down on the chair mirroring mine. "What are you two talking about?" Shawn, Bryson's best friend and also a close friend of mine asked as he dug into his fries. His eyes gleamed with amusement as they darted between Bryson and I. He arrowed a fry our way. "Let me guess. You two are flirting like usual." If it were even possible my face turned even redder. "We we-re not flir-ting." I splattered out. Shawn busted out laughing at my expense and from the corner of my eye I can see Bryson staring at me with a huge grin on his face. Great my friends thought I was a laughing stock. "Bryce. Did you see how red she got man?! Em is literally the color of a firetruck." Shawn snorted playfully. I glared at both him and Bryson whose grin widened as he agreed. "Yes. Makes me wonder where else that blush go." There's a heavy tone in Bryson's voice that had a slick electrical feeling zapping down my spine. "Yuck. Keep the flirting away from me before I barf." Shawn jokes and had me shyly moving my eyes away from both his and Bryson's. "Who's flirting?" Maya's voice flutters near. I turn around to see one of her arms slung over Bryson's shoulder as she held him close. Everyone knew that if anyone had to be Bryson's fated mate, then it would be Maya. Not only was she of higher rank but she was beautiful and walked with grace. Bryson deserved a mate as strong as him. And that mate couldn't be me, because I was weak. An omega and not as pretty as Maya. Swimming with jealousy, I tore my eyes away from the two. Shawn who didn't always see eye to eye with Maya, responded sarcastically. "Bryson and Emily. Who else? Do you see any other couple around Maya?" I shyly peeked at Bryson when Shawn mentioned that we were a couple. He didn't look like he hated it, in fact, Bryson had a charming grin on his face. Maya removed her arm off Bryson's shoulders and glared at Shawn. "Would it kill you to be nice to me for once dick? And, besides, Bryson and Em aren't a couple. Bryson's going to find his mate soon so you should be careful with your words. His mate might be someone in this room, you never know." She huffed and went to sit down on the chair beside Shawn who scooted away from her a little. I looked over at Bryson. That grin on his face is gone and is replaced by a frown. "What does finding his mate have to do with this now? There's no harm in the two flirting." Shawn grumbles and glared at Maya. "I'm just saying that if his mate is in the room she might get the wrong idea. It could be anyone, well except for Emily herself. She's an omega so her being Bryson's mate isn't believable." Maya said with a shrug. There was a bitter feeling in my chest when she said those words. And even though they were absolutely true, it didn't make it hurt any less. Suddenly a chair scraps backward and I snap my gaze to Bryson who stands up and storms away, leaving the three of us stunned by his sudden departure. "What's wrong with him?" Maya asked in confusion as she stared at a storming away Bryson who managed to capture everyone's attention. "Gee I wonder who upset him," Shawn said sarcastically. I rise to my feet, concerned about his obvious angry mood. "I'll go check up on him," I said. "No, I'll go," Maya said and rose to her feet. Shawn is quick to wrap his hand around her wrist and stops her. "No, Emily should go. It's obvious you upset him with your words Maya. I don't think you going to him is a good idea. Let Emily handle it." He grumbles tightly. Maya frowns but nods and sat back down. Shawn nods his head, urging me to go ahead. I quickly leave the cafeteria my eyes scanning around the area. Where could you be Bryce.... I opened the locker room and sure enough, there was the sound of a fist hitting metal. I rush over to his side, shocked to see him this angry. He's breathing roughly and his canines are out. And when he looked at me, I stare into angry red eyes. He's shifting and he's trying to fight it. "Bryce," I said softly as I took a cautious step forward. Bryce was an alpha, a future alpha and they tend to not be able to control their emotions when the day to take over the pack is approaching. He places his forehead on the locker while trying to control his rage and breathing. I approached him slowly, cautiously and when I'm beside him, I reach out and place my hand on his shoulder. He relaxes, breathing out a sigh. "Did she upset you that much Bryce?" I whispered when his eyes had gone back to normal and his teeth retracted. "It's her words. I hate when she brings up the mate thing." He admits and pushes off the locker only to turn around to face me. "I don't understand," I whispered. "She's right you know, you'll be finding your mate soon. Isn't that a good thing?" Bryson's jaw ticked and his eyes shifted in irritation. "How is that a good thing if there's a possibility I can't have the girl I want Em?" His words stunned me and my heart leaped. Did he have someone in mind he wanted as his mate? It sure sounded as though he had someone he liked. My heart throbbed. I know I shouldn't feel this way, Bryson after all would obviously be attracted to girls... A big part of me wanted him to be attracted to me but that was just wishful thinking. Bryson was way out of my league, in looks and ranking. It's actually laughable that I was so deeply in love with an alpha male who would never be mated to an omega like me. Bryson sighs and rakes a hand through his hair. "The closer my birthday comes the more agitated I get. I'm fearful of who I'll end up with knowing that the one I really want might not- He groans and shakes his head. His eyes lift to mine and they connected. It feels like electricity is zapping around us as he holds me in an intense stare. "In a few months, you'll be turning eighteen to Em. Aren't you afraid of who you'll end up with?" He asked, staring at me deeply. I tore my eyes away from him. I've thought about who the moon goddess must've chosen for me and my mind always wraps back to maybe an omega or low-ranked male. Omegas have never been mated to any higher-ranked wolves, it's not like I'd magically be mated to one now. "I've thought about it a lot actually. And yes I'm terrified of that day." I admitted. I'm terrified that we won't have the same bond we have now. Your main focus will be on your Luna and I'll be stuck with someone I have to force to fall in love with even though my heart belongs to you. But instead of saying the truth, I sent him a shaky smile. "But I figured the moon goddess won't fate me to a higher ranked wolf so I suppose I have nothing to fear of. You know how you higher ranked wolves are more maintenance." I joked trying to ease the tension. But it does the opposite because Bryson's brows knot into a frown and he grumbles. "Right." He stares at me with an emotion he was quick to mask and then clears his throat. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see who we end up with huh?" I nodded grimly. I didn't want to end up with anyone else other than Bryson. I was in love with him and I was afraid that even with a mate that's not him, I'd never be able to get over him. _ "You better take your time today," I warned him as I buckled myself. Bryson shoots me a grin and winks. "No promises." I gripped the door quickly as he drove off. "Bryson Taylor!" I yelled in anger. He roared with laughter and then slowed down. I turn to shoot him a glare. "I swear you're just trying to piss me off." The corner of his mouth lifted into a smirk as he spared me a glance. "You're hot when you're pissed off, I can't help it." He joked but there was something weighing in his tone that made it a bit hoarse. Again, his words always seem to make me stop breathing for a few. But then I always remember that Bryson was always a teaser and he loved to tease me. Those words had no real meaning behind them. They were just that, words. Even though I wanted them to mean so much more. With a raging blush on my face that I failed to hide, I rip my eyes away from him and focus on the road while I murmur. "Shut up. " He chuckles and the sound sent a warm rush of tingles fluttering in my stomach. When we got to my place Bryson said he'd much rather warm up the food in fear that I'd 'burn' down the house. "Whatever," I said and rolled my eyes. I left him and went upstairs to freshen up. When I got back upstairs, Bryson is already seated on the sofa, his feet kicked up on the coffee table. "Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with your dad today about the alpha ceremony?" I asked as I approached him. Not only was Bryson turning the age of eighteen in a couple of days, but he would also be passed down the alpha title. He will now be the alpha leader of the pack. Something he's been training for relentlessly. He looks up at me and I didn't fail to notice the way his eyes dipped for a few seconds on my breasts area and legs. I blushed and he clears his throat while reaching over for the remote. "Like I'd leave you home alone Em. I mind linked my dad, we'll talk about it tomorrow." I winced. Brent Taylor, alpha of our pack, was a bit more stern. Especially when it came to pack business. "Was he upset?" I winced as I plopped beside him. I let out a tiny breath when his arm slings around my shoulder and he pulled me closer to his side. "Nah not really. He understood. It's really not a big deal Em. Alpha duties can come after, you'll always come first." I swallowed the lump in my throat. When he says words like that it makes me want to beg him to kiss me at least once before he'll never be mine again. But that wasn't a possibility. We were best friends and he only saw me as his little sister. "I just don't want to be the reason you're missing out on your duties Bryce. You'll take over the pack in literally a few days. " I whispered and peeked at him under my lashes. I hear his sharp intake of breath when our eyes connected and furrow my brows when he rips them away quickly. "I have enough time Em. Now stop being so worried." He whispered and switched through the movies and picked one I liked even though he didn't like that kind of genre. I smiled and lay my head on his shoulder. - A few hours had passed and now it was dark out. The only light in the house was coming from the television. We had eaten a few hours ago and now I was exhausted. I yawned, my eyes fluttering closed until sleep washed over me. It was only when I felt myself being lifted did my eyes slowly fluttered open. In my hazy mind and vision, I spotted Bryson's eyes staring down at me. "Go back to sleep Em, I got you." He whispered and my eyes followed his command. I can hear his footfalls as he walked up the stairs, feel his arms hold me protectively to his chest. Hear the steady beating of his heart in his chest. And then soon, I felt the soft covers under me as I sank into the mattress. He fixed me and pulled the covers over my legs to my midsection. But when I thought he was gone, I felt the hovering presence of him above me then felt the softness of his lips on the corner of my mouth. "Goodnight baby." He whispered, his lips lingering there. But I didn't expect the night came this way. - "Bryson, what are you doing here?" I whispered, looking into his startling green eyes that shone with love. I must be dreaming. Why was he staring at me with so much love? Bryson takes a step forward, his eyes darkening with lust when they fall to my parted mouth. I let out a gasp of air from the intensity of the fire of desire swirling in his foresty gaze. His eyes cause my body to burn with heat and I bit my bottom mouth to stop myself from moaning out loud. I'm like a flickering match under the weight of his stare and when he spoke in a husky tone next, I burn alive. "Em, I want you," He groaned, his eyes darkening until they swirled with red. His wolf was aroused too. It wasn't only him. "I've wanted you for so long. I want you Em. I want you so badly it hurts." His hands reach up and he bunches his shirt in his hand. Where his heart beat. I can hear it. I can hear the organ beat as furiously as mine. I sucked a very sharp breath, stumbling back a step when his words registered. He wants me. His canines jut out from his gum and he takes a powerful step forward. "I want you and I'm going to claim you. I'm claiming you as mine Em. You're mine." He snarls and finishes the distance between us and pulls me in his arms. He holds the back of my head, forcing me to look up. Our eyes connected and tingles rake over my body and swirl in my veins like the fire he had flickered already inside me. "Bry-son," I gasped, my eyes widening a little. He grins, showcasing his canines that were still on display. "I knew it. I knew you were mine. You're my luna- - I gasped, my upper half snapping up in a sitting position. I gripped the covers around my body as I try to relax my pounding heart. I'm trembling and lift my hand to brush through my hair shakily. Great Em, now you're dreaming of your best friend claiming you.... You can't be any more obsessed than this. I let out a shaky breath and licked across my lower lip which felt dry. Pang. My brows furrowed. Pang. What the...? Another pang cracks the silence in the room. I look over at my window. There wasn't a tree or a branch close by that can make that kind of sound. The only person or should I say wolf who would do this was none other than my best friend. The boy I just dreamt about. Pang. I was right. He was throwing tiny stones at my window. My heart starts beating like it normally does when he's near. I gripped my shirt where my heart beat in my chest. Calm down, heart. Stop making it obvious. When the organ had finally settled, I throw the covers off my body and padded my way over to the window. I slid it open, welcoming the cold air to beat against my cheeks. I looked down and sure enough, Bryson is standing just under my window, his arm up ready to sling another pebble at the glass. I stop him before he could. "Bryson!" I hissed getting his attention. He stops, throws the pebble down, and grins up at me. "You caught me. I will forever be indebted to you, my lady." He joked, keeping his hands up in surrender. I rolled my eyes yet smiled. I had noted that he had no shirt on and only khaki shorts. He had been in wolf form and run all the way here. I turn to look at the beating red numbers on my nightstand clock. It's two a.m in the morning. That's the latest he had ever come here. I furrowed my brows in confusion. "What's wrong Bryce?" I whispered in a worried tone that he caught. "Jump," He answered. I shook my head. "It's cold out, and it's inappropriate to be outside at this hour with my future alpha." He knew I was annoying him. Even if I had yet to shift I still had wolf genes which made my body warm even in the winter times. It was difficult to get cold. After that dream I just had, I didn't want to be face to face with him so close. Bryson looks irritated and moves out of the shadows a bit. The fadish light from the moon beamed down on him, eliminating his green foresty eyes. "And as your future alpha, I ask that you get your pretty ass down here this instant." He cocked a challenging brow. "Or would you rather I come up there and take you myself?" Oh please, he was serious. Sighing in defeat, I opened the window wider and crawled onto the ledge. I looked down, pinning him with a look that told him he better catch me. He grins boyishly and winks. "I'll always catch you Em. " He promises, his eyes shining with honesty. If I fell I wouldn't necessarily die. It wasn't that high off the ground and I could still heal. Slowly yes, but I'd heal nonetheless. But that didn't mean I'd take the chance to actually fall and perhaps accidentally break a bone or two in the process. I held the air in my lungs, counted to three, and jumped. "Oomph," I said when arms quickly wrap around me, catching me before I could land on the ground. Bryson's arms wrapped around me like a band of hard steel, tightening around me protectively. For a few moments, we stay like this, just me in his arms and him holding me so closely. I slowly looked up at him, only to remember that his upper half was naked. A furious blush spread on my cheeks hotly and I squirm and wiggle for him to put me down on my feet. "Okay you can put me down now," I said, avoiding his gaze and very thankful that I left my hair down messily, so it would help to veil around my face and block his sight from my reddened cheeks. "Oh right," Bryson said sheepishly and awkwardly place me on my feet. I fixed my oversized shirt and brushed my hair in a way that would block my cheeks. Looking up at him, he's already staring at me in amusement. "Now can you tell me why you're here so late?" I asked, trying to move his attention away from me. "I came here for you." "What?" I breathed out, my heart rate kicking up a notch. Bryson voiced. "I can't sleep. I desired to see you-" That word. Desire.... He probably should not use it in a sentence when it involves me. He stops, and under the moon light I swore I could see the faint color of a blush. But that could just be my imagination. He clears his throat and lifts his hand in his hair where he scratches behind his nape. "I want you to join me for a run Em." I looked around. "It' really not a good idea to be here with you, especially since in a few days there's going to be your ceremony." And he'll be mated... "Let's go to our special place." He murmured. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718434800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889600 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188543 | 1723678834 | 1026 | 1647538179348259 | 2 | 9.748784076486E+14 | 1716620400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 250753834794512 | 0 | Read freely | 120211565986950196 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | โค๏ธ๐What happens next๐Click Here to read on๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11204&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1714661788 | 2.5075383479451E+14 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441255115_1177880883571742_5075201022874715379_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=YSJ1wzF5rB4Q7kNvgFK2WWs&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDaV2vnZJRumdCrjXRPCopOuQ2c5KtABeZ6hRhc4-HSCg&oe=667E7A73 | person_profile | 0 | Read freely | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441055224_676099334622461_3142011906559831658_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=fmBeuMjyZR4Q7kNvgGtzfS_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCm2-4Keq0sX6PP82mQJk85YqjCNCA6adykiYSHXJHJsQ&oe=667E88B9 | 0 | 3 | My husband and boss Adam, is laughing at every joke that leaves the lips of his first love while I watch them through the glass doors that separates his office from mine. I had been dutifully preparing some documents that needed his signature and also setting up his meetings for the day like I have done for 7 years as his secretary but since Sophiaโs arrival, I have been unable to get any work done. I feel a pang in my chast every time Adam laughs, almost tearing up at the thought that he has never laughed like that around me. I stare at her slender frame, her lush black hair that bounces back into place even when she throws her head back in laughter and the grace in every of her movements. Sophia is an epitome of feminine grace and every of her features is proof of why Adam has been hung up over her even though they separated years ago. Even though he married me. The dark binds of his office are brought down abruptly, blocking my view of them both and now all I can see is black. It is as if Adam is trying to prevent me from prying even though I am his wife and privacy shouldnโt be a thing between us, especially when it comes to a woman he used to love so much. I still remember how shocked I was when she walked up to me earlier, heels clicking ever so sophisticatedly on the office tiles. I saw the feet cladded in shiny red heels before I raised my head to look at her. โAria, I didnโt know you still worked here! I canโt believe Adam is still making you work even after you both got married. That man is something, isnโt he?โ She said, smiling sweetly with blood red lips that would look horrifying on me if I dared to try that shade of lipstick. I couldnโt speak, caught in the shock of staring face to face with her after all these years, especially as she still had the same aura of wealth and confidence that I have always known her to possess. For a split second, she made me feel insecure in my gray office wear and my tight bun hair and the fact that I wore little to no makeup. โSophia!โ Adamโs voice was what broke me out of that trance I was stuck in as he stepped out of his office and there, right in front of me, he hugged her ever so tightly like an old time friend before he led her back into his office without sparing me as little as a glance. Now, they are alone together in his office, the blinds of his office pulled shut so that I canโt see them but can only hear their muffled voices and his own laughter every now and then. I squirm in my seat uncomfortably each time they laugh, gripping the edges of my table tightly and too destabilized to get any work done while they are both holed up in there. I stare at the calendar on my table. Todayโs date is marked with a red marker and I sigh deeply. Does he even know today is our third wedding anniversary? Every year, it seems like I am the only one who remembers it and now with Sophiaโs appearance, I can already tell that today will pass by like itโs just another day. I knew she was coming today. Being his secretary is the only reason why I knew the things Adam would rather keep from me. He already briefed me about a new business partner that just returned to the country two months ago and will be at the office at any time. What I didnโt know or should I say, what he purposely kept from me was that the so-called business partner was Sophia Bradley and perhaps the reason why he has been more cold and indifferent than usual, ever since her return. My heart aches at the realization but it aches even more because there is nothing I can do about it. I have never had a place in Adamโs heart but he has been the only one in mine. I loved him from the very moment he saved my life years ago but I can say the same for him. He always reminds me even without speaking, that our marriage is nothing but an attempt at fulfilling his grandfatherโs wishes and I knew if he had gotten his way, he would have never looked at me twice, not to talk of getting married to me. Grandfatherโs love for me is perhaps the only reason I am still sane in this loveless marriage. The old man never ceases to show how much he cherishes me but when has that ever been enough? I am married to Adam and not his family. The clock ticks endlessly, yet Adam remains in there with her. Their laughter dies down all of a sudden and I can barely hear a word they are saying. Unable to hold back anymore, I stand before the restlessness kil ls me. I am his wife and I deserve to know what is going on. To look natural, I quickly make two cups of coffee. After all, I am his secretary and this is a part of my job. Nervous sweat breaks out on my forehead as I make my way to his office with unsure steps. Inhaling sharply, I open the door and step in. My heart clenches at the sight of them both, relaxed in each otherโs company as they sit so close to each other on one of the couches in his office. I swallow hard and try to walk over to the table with the best confidence I could muster. โI made coffee.โ I say but they donโt even acknowledge my presence, lost in each other and whatever they were discussing. I study Sophia for a moment, watching as she twirls her cherry blonde hair with a finger while seated with one leg crossed over the other to reveal a prov0cative amount of thi9hs, smiling so brightly that I canโt tell if sheโs faking it. I want to turn around and leave but my feet fail to move. I canโt just leave like this. For how long will I keep quiet and svck it up? โSir,โ I call, looking directly at Adam. We are married but he never fails to remind me that I address him as my boss at work. Adam doesnโt even make a move to look at me and anger rises inside of me, slowly boiling. โSir,โ I call again and that is when he finally regards me with a cold look that almost deters me but I remain firm under his gaze. โThere is something I need to talk to you about, itโs important.โ I lie right through my teeth. I can feel Sophiaโs gaze burning through me but I try not to look at her, for the fear that my confidence would slip away if I do. Adam just waves me off. โIt can wait. As you can see, I have a guest.โ โIt canโt wait.โ I say, even more firmly but he is already back to smiling and listening to Sophia speak like a lovesick teenage boy. I call him a few more times and unable to hold back any longer, I call him by his name instead. โAdam!โ They both look up at me with a mix of expressions. That of Adam is pure anger while Sophia is obviously irritated. I know she has never liked me and back when I was just his secretary and she was his girlfriend, she complained about every single thing I did. โAdam, what is this? Is this how you let your employees disrespect you?โ She says it with absolute disgust and disrespect. I am stunned at her words, so stunned that I scoff. Employee? She dares to talk down on me like that even when she knows fully well that I am not just an employee. Adam stands, his tall frame causing his shadow to sweep over me while I grip the tray of coffee tightly in my hands. โAria, out. Now.โ He commands and I am filled with so much hurt that my hands shake and my lips quiver. โWhy should I? I have every reason to be in this room and I have every right to speak for you to listen to me.โ Sophia stands at once. โIt seems as though your wife has a bone to pick with me and I will not sit here and take such insults.โ She begins to walk away and of course, Adam follows her. I try to move out of her way but my attempt fails when her shoulder heavily bumps into mine in a way that is too fierce to be considered unintentional. I lose grip of the tray and stagger forward and just like that, the hot coffee spills all over her very expensive looking dress and mine. She shrieks, backing away from me only to glare at me the next second. โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ She yells. Adam rushes to her side in less than a minute, fussing over her stained dress and even offering her his handkerchief while I stand there, drenched in coffee as my husband takes care of another woman. I feel the tears prickling at the corner of my eyes but what does crying in front of this woman make me? โI canโt believe you! What did I ever do to you? Go ahead and dislike me all you want but there is a limit to how far you can go and you just crossed that.โ She says again, seething in uncontained anger. Adam turns to me, eyes dark with rage. It makes me shiver. Makes me feel unimaginable pain to know he is mad at me because of another woman. โApologise right now!โ He commands and I scoff. How can he stand there and take her side when I did nothing wrong? โWhy should I do that? I have done nothing wrong. She bumped into me!โ I defend myself, my voice breaking. Lips quivering. โI did no such thing!โ Sophia says defensively but her eyes tell a different story. โYou heard me, Aria. Apologize to her right now.โ Adam says again, still intently looking at me. I almost laugh at the fact that the only time he is looking me directly in the eyes after three years of marriage is when another woman is involved. I shake my head, finding all of this hard to believe. โSo you believe her over me? You take her words for it but mine does not matter? I am your wife.โ โA wife I never wanted to marry!โ He yells back and shatters what is left of my broken heart. Chapter 2 I am speechless for the next few seconds as his words hit me like a freight train. I wait. I wait for his hard eyes to soften with remorse at the harsh words he threw at me but that doesnโt happen. He is glowering at me, nose flaring angrily. โAdam, howโฆhow could you say that to me?โ I say, my eyes crossing over to Sophia who is now hiding her own frame behind his tall, muscular one, โIn front of her?โ โBecause itโs the truth!โ He yells again, startling me into making a small helpless sound. Adam has never yelled at me. And even though it hurts me to admit that he is truly saying the truth, he has never said it to my face and I never really thought he would. I have always known it yet it hurts to hear it come from him. It feels like a thousand needles are pricking my heart and making me bleed out with so much pain. He runs his fingers through his hair, seeming frustrated. Like he would rather not have this conversation with me. And just when I think it is over, he continues to speak, breaking me even further. โYou were nothing but a mere secretary who wormed her way into my life. If you hadnโt forced yourself on me that night, none of this would have happened! This marriage would have never happened and you know it.โ He brings up the past. Our past. The night that meant everything to me but clearly means nothing to him. I swallow over and over again till my throat and mouth become dry. I canโt cry. No, I canโt appear weak. Not in front of Adam and definitely not in front of Sophia so I keep my tears at bay, urging them to return before they spill down my cheeks. โI never forced myself on you, Adam. Why wonโt you believe me?โ I manage to say but he raises a hand to tell me to stop talking and I clamp my lips shut. โDo not stand there and try to look innocent, Aria because that is far from who you are. I simply said the truth and I do not care if you cannot take it.โ He says and stares at me intently. โDo not let what happened today repeat itself again. Know your place and I will not have any reason to talk to you like this. Do you understand?โ He lays emphasis on every word of warning he is giving me and turns his back against me before I can even open my mouth to speak again. โAre you okay?โ I canโt believe how his voice goes from hard to soft in the next second as he fusses over Sophia. Sophia makes a face that has me balling my fingers into a fist. A face that clearly says she is not okay. โThe coffee was hot and I think I might have to visit the hospital to prevent the burn from leaving a scar.โ She says in a quiet voice. I look down at my own body that is also drenched in the same coffee. The coffee wasnโt hot enough to cause a burn but Adam believes her instantly. He pulls her into a hug and embarrassment washes over me like a bucket of ice. โIโll drive. Wait here, I will get my keys.โ he says as he pulls away, rushing to his office table to grab his car keys before coming back to her side. He takes her purse from her and leads her out. They both seem so lost in each other that they forget my existence totally, leaving me to stand alone in the middle of the room. Silence falls over me and I am left with my thoughts, licking the wound that his words caused. I have never been able to convince Adam that I didnโt force myself on him yet till this very day, he still believes I drugged him into sleeping with him on the night we were having dinner with his family three years ago. I can never forget the pure look of disgust and shock on his face when we both woke up in each otherโs arms the next morning. I knew since then that Adam would never love me, yet I was hopeful. As the years go by, the hope keeps dwindling with his grandfather, being the only support system in everything. Sighing, I return to my office and pick up my phone. My eyes widens when I see that a number has called my phone repeatedly all the time I was in Adamโs office. The dread that fills me stems from the fact that I recognise the number as the hospitalโs number. I call back instantly, my heart racing. They pick up on the second ring. โMrs Miller, we have been trying to reach you all afternoon!โ A female voice says. โWhy? Is something wrong? Is my grandmother okay?โ I ask, rushing my words as I am filled with dread and panic. โYou need to be at the hospital, your grandmotherโโ I donโt wait to hear the rest of her words. I race out of the room and call on a taxi to drive me to the hospital. I go straight to her hospital room but the sheets and blankets are already being neatly arranged and the bed is empty. More panic. More dread. โWhere is my grandmother?โ I ask, โWhere is she?โ The nurse cleaning the room gives me a look of pity that nauseates me. โI am sorry, Mrs Miller but your grandmother died ten minutes ago and has been moved to the hospitalโs mortuary. I am sorry.โ She says. The world around me stops and I donโt know how I am able to walk on my two feet to the mortuary where the Nurse leads me. She stops at the door and points to my grandmother laying on a table in the room, her body covered in a white sheet from head to toe. I walk to the bedside with shaky legs and the moment I take the sheet off and set my eyes on her pale face, I burst out into a loud sob, wishing I could go back to a month ago so I can prevent that accident that made her this way. The accident that took my only living family away from me. โGrandmaโฆโ I call in a broken voice as I reach for her hand. They are too cold, so lifeless and the tears begin to leave my eyes in torrents as I remember how warm these hands used to be when they held my face. โIโm sorryโฆIโm so sorry.โ I cry, holding tightly unto her and hating myself for not being there in her last moments. I should have been there with her but I was too busy worrying about my place in my husbandโs life. The nurse comes into the room and says, โShe asked us to give you this.โ I wipe my tears, sniffling as I take what seems to be a key chain from her. I couldnโt think of a reason why grandmotherโs parting gift to me would be a key chain but I canโt seem to care. Her cold hands slammed me into the reality of what had happened. Grandmother is dead. I fall to my knees by the bed and weep, muttering and calling for her to return to me. โAria.โ Adamโs voice calls from behind me. I am both surprised and relieved to find him there. He must have been contacted by the hospital as well and stopped by since he already came here with Sophia anyway. Sophia is standing in the room with us but I ignore her. I focus on Adam because I need him. I need someone to hold me and tell me everything will be fine. โAdam.โ I cry as I walk over to him and hug him without a second thought, my tears gathering and falling again. His body stiffens at my touch but I donโt let go. I need his warmth. I need him because he is really all that I have left and I canโt bear to lose him too. I expect him to push me away but he doesnโt. He doesnโt hug me back too but I canโt find it in me to care as I sob uncontrollably. My tears subside and I sniffle repeatedly and slowly let go of him. He clears his throat and takes out his phone, saying; โIโll place a call to start making preparations for her funeral.โ He turns around to leave with Sophia also following him but I canโt bear the sight of him turning his back to me and leaving. I grab his hand. โStay.โ I sound so weak and helpless but I do not give a damm, โPlease, donโt go. Stay with me.โ I beg. Adam opens his mouth to say something but a sharp cry stuns us both. We spin around at the same time to the source of the cry and she is crouching, holding her stomach with an expression of pain. Adam rushes to Sophiaโs side in a heartbeat and my heart sinks further down my stomach. โSophia, are you okay?โ He asks with concern ringing high in his voice. She shakes her head, โThere is something Iโve been wanting to tell you but didnโt know how.โ She says, holding her stomach as she looks directly at me. โWhat is it?โ Adam asks, still very much concerned. โAdamโฆIโฆI am pre9nant.โ Chapter 3 Grandmotherโs funeral is being held on a gloomy day, much to my displeasure. I listened to the weather forecast so I could choose the perfect day for the funeral, and according to the forecast, the day is supposed to be sunny and bright just like Grandmother. I feel duped standing by grandmotherโs grave with the sky covered in clouds that only worsen the dark and depressing feeling that has settled in my guts since her death. I have cried so much that I have no tears left to shed at grandmotherโs grave and now have to wear dark sunglasses to hide how red and puffy my eyes are rather than to complement my black dress. There are a few people hanging around the other graves in the cemetery to pay their last respects to their loved ones and at each grave, there are at least two people; couples holding each other, families comforting each other and even church processions. I am alone, with no one to comfort me since no one else bothered to attend my grandmother's funeral. With her gone, I realize how lonely I actually am and the thought deals another blow to my already damaged heart. I try hard to get the heartbreaking events of the past few days off my mind and when I finally succeed, I turn my focus back to my grandmother. Sheโs smiling in the framed picture placed by her tombstone and I force a smile as well as a fond memory of her slips into my mind. โAria, my child, you canโt frown like that everytime or youโll get wrinkles like me before you are even my age!โ She would say and then go ahead to spread my lips into a smile with her fingers. Grandmother was a cheerful soul who would tell me stories, mostly the ones about my birth and how she knew from the very first day that she set her eyes on me that I was going to be a really beautiful and amazing child. I shared everything with her and talking to her about my marriage was one of the things that made it bearable. I donโt know what Iโd do without Grandmother. Tears start to gather in my eyes again and I take off the sunglasses to wipe them off before they start to fall. I already promised myself not to cry anymore; Grandmother wouldnโt want that. Sniffling, I begin to place the things I brought with me by her grave; Tulips, which were her favorite flowers; Peaches, her favorite fruit and finally some sweets because grandmother had a really sweet tooth and never listened to me whenever I told her they were bad for her age. โThere are no sweets in heaven, Aria. Itโs only right that I take as much as I can down here before the big guy calls me up there.โ She would say at the same she unwraps another candy and tosses it into her mouth. She would talk on and on about โThe big guyโ and โUp thereโ like she was always prepared for the day she would die. I canโt help it anymore, I burst into tears, falling on my knees by her grave as it dawns on me fully that she is really gone. โI should have let you have all the candies in the world. I should have been there with you at your dying moment. I should have held your hands and told you itโs gonna be okay. Iโโ My voice breaks, the deep regret and tears choking me and making me lose my train of thoughts. I canโt think of a thing to say anymore and so I just cry, sobbing so hard my body shakes. I hear confident footsteps approaching me and feel a presence behind me that causes my sobs to come to a pause. My heart races and hope swells inside of me when the person puts a hand on my shoulder. I whip my head around, expecting to see Adam but my hope quickly shatters when I see that it is Adam uncle, Regis. โRegis.โ I say, sniffing and wiping my tears in a rush. โHere,โ He hands me his handkerchief, stuffing it in my hand and closing my palm around it before I can even refuse. I say a barely audible thank you before I dab at the tears with the hanky that smelt like him. โI came as soon as I heard, Iโm sorry about your Grandmother, Aria.โ He says in a sincere and kind voice. Regis has always been kind to me even when I was just a secretary. Whenever he came to visit his nephew at the office, he would stop to say hi and hand me a canned coffee with a smile on his face. However, he left the country to study a few days before our wedding and only returned not too long ago. This is the first time seeing him since his return and the kind look in his eyes assures me that if he had been around, I would have had another person rooting for me just like Adamโs grandfather. โYou didnโt have to.โ I say quietly, trying to downplay how much it actually means to me that at least, one person cares enough to be here with me. Regis looks around as if searching for something and then he frowns when our eyes meet again. โYouโre alone? Where the hel is Adam?โ He asks, his voice a little hard. My cheeks redden in embarrassment. Regis has only just returned and probably doesnโt know anything yet. I am not willing to talk either. I force a smile and begin to pack the excess things I bought for my grandmother's funeral. Regis joins me wordlessly and I sigh in silent appreciation of how he doesnโt ask anymore questions. He takes everything from my hands even before I can protest. โDid you drive here?โ He asks and I shake my head. I came here in a Taxi. โCโmon, weโll take my car.โ He says and walks in front of me. I have no choice but to follow him. We have just gotten outside of the cemetery when a car drives into the parking space right beside Regisโ car. The car is familiar and I keep doubting who it belongs to until Adam steps out of the car, eyes trained on me as he walks over. The first thing I notice is his Royal Blue suit and I feel the slow brewing of anger inside of me. How could he show up wearing that? It is like a blatant disrespect of my Grandmother and I canโt stand to watch her get disrespected even in her death. It is clear that he came from the office; little surprise there and it would have been better if he didnโt come at all as I now realize how looking at him only infuriates me. He had managed to avoid me in the past three days since the hospital incident. Three days since Sophia announced that she was pre9nant and shook my world. I didnโt need anyone to tell me who the baby belonged to as he walks towards me now, I feel nothing but resentment for him. โIs it over? Crap, I must have lost track of time.โ He says before turning to his uncle and giving him a tight smile of appreciation that I find nauseating. โThank you for being here with her, uncle.โ Regis merely crosses his arms, staring back at his nephew, โCare to explain why you are only just coming?โ Regis thows the question at him and I face Adam too, crossing my arms. โYes, Adam. Tell me what was more important than being at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I already know the answer but I still wait to hear him say it so I can have a reason to hate him even more. โI really wanted to be here, Aria but you knowโฆโ He trails off, running a hand through his hair, โI had to be with Sophia.โ The sound of her name is what does it for me; the same woman who is the reason I wasnโt around to witness grandmotherโs dying moments. โDid you really come all the way here to tell me you were with another woman you slept with and impregnated?โ โWhat?โ Regis is the one who speaks, his voice echoing his shock as he looks from me to Adam. Adamโs usual blank look remains as if he is unaffected by my words and the pain he has caused me. โLetโs not do this here, Aria. You know I canโt just leave her.โ I scoff. โI never stopped you. You know what? You should have never come here. You should have stayed with her since that is where your loyalties lie now and I am no longer in the picture.โ Adam frowns, moving closer and intimidating me just a little with his height and muscular frame, โWhat does that mean? You are my wife.โ โEx-wife,โ I say the words without even thinking. I didnโt think any of this through but I donโt care because my entire being seems to agree that this is whatโs best for me, โI want a divorce, Adam.โ His eyes grow wide, unable to contain the shock at my words and I am proud of myself that I finally got a reaction that isnโt anger or coldness from him. โBoth the divorce papers and my resignation will find their way to you soon.โ I add before he can get over his shock and I donโt wait for him to reply as I turn to an equally stunned Regis. โTake me home, Regis.โ Chapter 4 Adamโs POV I want a divorce. The words circle around my head non-stop. Of all the shets I have had the pleasure of hearingโand trust me, I hear a lot of crap as a CEOโAria asking for a divorce out of nowhere has to be the worst. I am a man who takes pride in my strength and ability to handle situations no matter how unexpected they are. It comes with the job, yet for some reason, I am unable to utter a single word or move my feet until she gets into the car with my uncle. When I finally come to my senses, she is long gone, leaving me to drown in the pool of shock she created. I am shocked at her audacity; the way she looked me in the eyes as she hit me with those words. Ariaโs cold hazel eyes totally betrayed the meek and timid trait that I have only ever known her for. I am equally shocked at myself for actually being affected by it when I shouldn't have batted an eyelash, after all, I never wanted to marry her. The three years of living with Aria felt like I was in bonda9e created by her own deceit and my grandfatherโs overbearing attitude. I never cared about Aria yet the sound of divorce numbed me completely that I am unable to think straight until the door to my car opens and reminds me that I am still standing still in front of the cemetery. My personal assistant steps out of the car and speaks. โSir, your appointment with the Taylor Enterprises is thirty minutes from now. Itโs more than an hourโs drive from here, we should leave now ifโโ โCancel it,โ I say, heading back to the car, not quite in the right mind to process anything, not even a meeting whose outcome was worth millions of dollars. My assistant follows behind me in a hurry, obviously confused. โBut sir, that isnโt the only appointment for the day. You also haveโฆโ He starts to read out my packed schedule for the day as I finally get into the car. โCancel them all!โ I say, settling into the leather seats of the car and loosening my tie at the same time as it feels like I am slowly losing the ability to breathe, โGet in and turn the dann AC on.โ I command him, unable to prevent my anger and irritation from reflecting in my voice. Finally noticing the negative emotions rolling out of me in waves, he mutters his response before getting into the driverโs seat and pulling the car out of the cemeteryโs parking lot. We get to the highway, air is emitting from not only the AC in the car yet I feel heat rising from inside of me and not even loosening a few buttons on my shirt helped. All I can think about is Aria and the dammed divorce. My shock is long gone and I am now stewing in nothing but anger, bordering on rage. Who the hel does she think she is? What gives her the boldness to think she makes the call for divorce? If anyone should be asking for a divorce, It should be me. I am the one who married her against my will. Sheโs the one who found me so irresistible that she went as far as dru9ging me just to have me. If anyone deserves to slam divorce papers in her face, it is me but the thought never crossed my mind. Sheโs a good secretary, dutiful, efficient and always at my beck and call. She also doubles as a good wife, never getting in my way or needy for attention. Aria takes whatever I give her; the little time, the irregular sax and the little communication, all that I deemed appropriate for our kind of relationship. The sudden switch has me racking my brain, thinking of different possibilities and all the things that could have gone wrong. A thought crosses my mind and it intensifies my anger in a way that I canโt even understand. โFind out if Aria has been meeting anyone lately. Men in particular.โ I say. My assistant meets my eyes through the rearview mirror. His eyes fail to hide his surprise that I am asking him to look into my wife and the possibility that sheโs been seeing other men. I canโt rule out all the possibilities and if Aria has really been cheating on me, I swear to Godโ My phone vibrates beside me on the leather seats. Sophiaโs name pops up on the screen in a message notification. Sheโs asking me when next I would be available for an appointment at the doctorโs office. Seeing Sophiaโs message douses my anger but leaves me with a far more disturbing emotion. I thought of all the reasons why my quiet wife is suddenly asking for a divorce but it never crossed my mind that impregnating the woman I once loved could be the reason. I think back to that day two months ago when yet again, I let drinking lead me into making the worst decisions. All I had to do was pick Sophia up at the airport, drive her to her hotel and return home. Instead, I took the invite to have a drink in her hotel room; for old timeโs sake, she called it. We did more than just have a drink that night and the outcome is the baby growing inside of Sophia. I canโt call it a mistake yet deep down, I know it should have never happened. I should have never let myself get tempted by the thought of how being inside of Sophia will feel after three years. I want the child. Itโs my baby and I donโt plan on losing it but it comes at a price that I never thought would be a problem which is the divorce with Aria. I canโt let Aria divorce me. I need her. At the office and in my home. Sheโs been my secretary for seven years and no one can do her job like her. I also pay her well and make sure she doesnโt need anything as my wife. How does she plan to survive without me anyway? Does she think that by asking for divorce, she has put herself on a higher level than me? What game is she playing with me now? Ha! Women thinking that they can live without a man and his support. As I think deeply about these things, I also think of a way to remedy them. I just need to do something to appeal to her. โWhat do women like?โ I asked my assistant. He hesitates at first, surprised by the sudden question before he clears his throat and answers, โErm, designer bags I guess and oh, flowers.โ I am already scrolling through an online store on my phone, clicking away at every expensive bag that catches my eyes until I have already ordered a number to last her an entire year. Then we make a stop at the flower shop on the way home. Turns out there are more than a hundred thousand flowers and I canโt even decide which one to get for Aria because apparently, women have favorites when it comes to things as trivial as flowers as well. In the end, I pick Lilies because the attendant at the flowershop claims itโs most womenโs favorite. I head home after that with only one single thought at the back of my mind; I wonโt let Aria divorce me. Chapter 5 Iโm thankful that Regis doesnโt ask any questions as he drives me back home. He offers to drive me into the compound but I turn him down and wait till he drives off before I sigh and walk into the house. The house is brimming with maids who rush over to me the instant they hear the door open but I raise a hand to stop them all from coming close to me. I am no longer the mistress of the house. I walk past them all to get to my room. Adam and I only share a room when he is looking to satisfy his saxual urges. He crawls into my bed and peppers kisses all over my body till I give in and that is the only time I ever feel wanted by him. As I walk into the room, I refrain from staring at the bed for longer than I should, afraid that the memories of us tangled up in sheets with him buried deep inside of me will break my resolve. And right now, I have only one resolveโto leave Adam for good. I begin to pack while that resolve is still strong, not even stopping for one moment to think about the fact that I have nowhere to go. I canโt bear to stay one more day under the same roof with Adam, knowing how deeply his betrayal cut. I only pack a few things that are important, assuring myself that I will come back for the rest of my things later when the divorce is finalized. I am only halfway through packing when I hear the sound of a familiar voice that never fails to send chills down my spine and even right this moment, I can already feel the chilling crawl of dread and it makes me stop packing immediately. Adamโs mother, Elodie and his sister Eva are here. I exhale sharply, trying to keep my breathing under control and to also keep the terrible memories of them from flushing into the forefront of my mind. A few more deep exhales and I finally get a hold of myself, resuming packing my things. Once I finish packing, I haul the heavy suitcase out of the room and walk into the living room where Elodie and Eva are seated on one of the couches, legs crossed over one another like they owned the place. Elodie has her signature scowl on her face that doesnโt fade even when I bow to greet her. โWhy are you here?โ Elodie asks, standing. I am confused by her question and my inability to give an answer makes her scoff, her face contorting into the ugliest form annoyance can take. โI almost forgot how dumb you are.โ Elodie says again. Dumb. Her favorite word to throw at me the way she pleases and of course, it doesnโt hurt less today. In fact, it is even more painful now that I realize that besides having to live with Adamโs indifference, I have also had to deal with his motherโs hatred and utter disrespect for me and all along, my response has either been silence or an apology that she never deserved. โWhy are you here instead of the office, huh?โ She sneers and continues, โMy son works tirelessly day and night just to make money for someone like you to leech off him, all he asks of you is to do your job as his secretary and yet you canโt even do that one thing? Do you think you are entitled to his money just because you are his wife?โ Her words are like hard blows to the chast, every single word that strung her sentences together hitting nerves and breaking right through them. I feel something rising inside of me. It has always been there but I have always managed to control it. To top it all, Eva, Adamโs snobbish sister had to chip in, โSheโs a trickster who duped my poor innocent brother and I wonder why isnโt she at the office! Such a lazy bumm! I donโt even know how Grandpa accepted such a penniless betch to be part of our elite family!โ โI had to be at my grandmotherโs funeral.โ I respond simply, hoping the scowl on her face will disappear but it gets even more profound and she adds a scoff for good measure. Did Elodie and Eva not know that my grandmother died? โIs she dead for real? Or is it just an act?!โ Eva has the guts to ask me and I glare at her. Elodie continues, โOf course, thatโs your excuse for being a lazy gold digger. Tell me, did that grandmother of yours teach you to go after other peopleโs money instead of working for your own?โ That very thing that has been rising inside me since I saw Adamโs mother reaches its peak. Itโs anger. It is red, pure and fiery and controls my whole being that I can not even bring myself to care about anything other than keeping my grandmotherโs name from being soiled. โDo not talk about my grandmother like that!โ I yell and she jumps slightly, startled by my outburst. โDid you just yell at me?โ she says, taking a step forward but I donโt flinch as I stare back into her eyes. Eva approaches me and she lashes out, โDid you just shout at my mother?!!!โ Eva has always tried to demean me and every possible way at every chance presented to her. She grabs my arm, presses it harshly, making me wince in pain. Elodie smiles and as usually, she is greatly entertained. I push Eva with the other hand and she tumbles on the sofa. She remains shocked for I have always allowed them to bully me and this time, I retaliate. โDid you forget your place? You are nothing but aโโ โGold digger who married your son for his money, yes, I get it!โ I snap at her, having had enough of the name calling every damm time, โBut you donโt have to worry about that anymore because I already filed for a divorce. I am leaving your son so you can go ahead and swallow all of his money for all I care.โ I turn around to leave, huffing as I drag the heavy suitcase with me but then Elodie clamps her hand down on the suitcase to stop me. She looks at the suitcase in amusement. โYou are really leaving!โ Elodie canโt even hide the joy in her tone. โYes, so please just stop and let me go.โ She shakes her head, โNot so fast! You canโt just leave.โ And then she signals to two of the maids who have been standing, watching the whole exchange. โSearch her!โ She orders when they come forward. They hesitate and she glares at them. โDid you not hear her? She is no longer the mistress of the house. Search her right now.โ I am too stunned to react when the maids finally snatch my suitcase from me. Eva tries to hold me preventing me from snatching back my bag from the maids. โWhat do you think youโre doing?โ I say, my voice shaky. โI canโt just let you leave. Who knows what valuables you have stolen from my son inside that germ ridden bag of yours.โ My mouth opens and closes several times at her words as I canโt even come up with a single string of sentences to say to her. I just watch as my things come tumbling to the ground in the rough search. Tears of humiliation burned at the back of my eyes. I donโt struggle any more from Evaโs grip and she stares at me triumphantly. โWhat is that? Hand it over.โ Adamโs mother says when one of the maids found a gold bracelet I had lodged into my case. Grandmotherโs bracelet, the only thing I have left of her. โNo!โ I rush forward to stop her from handing it over but I am too late. Adamโs mother is already holding and inspecting the bracelet. โOh, wow! Mom, you finally found something she stole from Adam!โ Eva exclaimed enthusiastically. Upon saying those words, she drags me and throws me onto the marble. I hit my nose. As I touch it, blood is coming out. I wipe it quickly and spring up to my feet. โI knew it! You took something. Did my son buy this for you? What gives you the right to think you can walk away with something he got for you after filing for a divorce?โ Elodie snaps. โThat doesnโt belong to your son! It is mine and I will appreciate it if you give it back.โ She does the exact opposite and only continues to accuse me of being a thief until the door opens and Adam walks in. I donโt feel relief at his presence like I usually do when his mother treats me this way, instead, I feel nothing but resentment for him. I want to scream how much I hate him to his face. His face twists into confusion when he sees the situation. โWhat is going on here?โ He asks, walking further into the house and looking from his mother to me. โThank goodness you arrived, son. This leech was about to leave with something that clearly doesnโt belong to her.โ His mother responds. โAnd she hit me!!!โ Eva adds, almost in tears, complaining to Adam. This time, Adam is too shocked to ask me why I hit his dear sister. I thought,as he did in the past, he would force me to apologize, but this time, he did nothing. I wonder why. My eyes are starting to water for some reason and I am confused as to why Adamโs appearance suddenly triggered them yet I smile through the tears. โAdam, will you please tell your mother that I have never gotten a gift from you?โ Adam falters, seemingly speechless for a second as he stares at his hands. I also look down at his hands and I finally understand why my eyes sting with tears and why I am sniffling in preparation of a sneeze that rocks my entire body. Lilies. I am all ergic to them. Despite the tears rolling down my cheeks, I start to laugh. I laugh so hard, ignoring the burning gazes of everyone present in the room who probably think I have gone crazy. I sneeze in between laughs, yet I donโt stop laughing as I turn to Adamโs mother. โI have been married to your son for three years and he doesnโt even know I am all ergic to lilies, yet you think he is capable of getting me a bracelet?โ I shake my head at my sad reality. Chapter 6 Adam hands the flowers over to one of the maids, asking her to put it in a vase or whatever. He clears his throat, trying and failing miserably to hide his embarrassment in front of his mother, his sister and the maids. โThe flowers werenโt for you.โ He says, voice hard as he stares at me for a brief second. I barely even feel anything when he says that because I genuinely donโt care anymore, I just want to get the hel out of this house and never return. I donโt even care about the rest of my things which I am yet to pack, I just want to turn my back on this horrible life already. I hear Eva sniggers. Adam seems like he wants to say something to me but then he decides against it and turns to his mother instead. โMum, please return the bracelet to her.โ She snorts and shakes her head stubbornly, โI am not letting her leave with it.โ Adam grunts, a sign that he is slowly losing his patience, โ I have never seen that bracelet mother, it belongs to Aria. Please, give it back.โ Adamโs mother doesnโt immediately move to do as she is told but the moment she does, it is with an annoyed huff as she tosses the bracelet at me. I catch it in my palms while she heads back to sit in the same position as earlier when I first walked into the living room. I fall to my knees by the mess the maids made out of my clothes and then I begin to arrange them again, rushing through the process so I can get out of here fast to stop the repeated sting of humiliation. Adam standing there and just watching me clean up his motherโs mess without as much as an apology from either of them only adds to the rising level of humiliation. Once done, I stand and face Adam squarely, taking in the same clothes he wore to the cemetery earlier and getting reminded of all the reasons why I am making the best decision of my life. โAs I said before, it is over between us. The divorce papers and my resignation letter will find their way to you soon.โ I say, ignoring the way his face twisted, โGoodbye, Adam.โ I turn around before I can even hear his response. I donโt want to look at Adam, not anymore. I walk away from him, going straight for the door and turning its knob for what I hope is the very last time. I have barely taken a step outside the door when Adamโs strong hand grabs my upper arm and twists me around to look at him. I have worked with him for seven years, four of which I was just his secretary and that was enough for me to know the kind of man Adam Miller is. He is usually composed with a blank expression that shows how in control he is. Right now, Adam is neither composed nor in control. He seems like he has lost grip of it and the meaning of those words donโt even matter to him anymore as he holds my arm in a tight grip. I struggle to break free of his hold. โLet me go.โ I snap at him but Adam only narrows his eyes at me, his anger burning past his blue eyes. โYou canโt just leave, Aria.โ He growls. โYou canโt tell me what to do, Adam. At least not anymore. Let me go!โ โDoes this even make any sense to you!โ He yells in my face as he lets go of my hand to run his hand through his hair, โ You canโt just spring this kind of shet on me.โ โItโs not springing if we have both had it coming from the very moment we shared our vows which you have already broken. We both know this marriage should have never happened so cut the crap and let me leave.โ I say, practically fuming before turning around in another attempt to leave. โWhat about grandfather? You are taking such a big step without talking to the old man who set it all up anyway. The man who has been nothing but good to you.โ I turn back to face Adam, hating his attempt at making me feel guilty. My thoughts go to his grandfather momentarily and I try to imagine the old manโs reaction to me filing for a divorce when he cares about me so much. However, I donโt waver. I refuse to let those thoughts come between me and my freedom. I refuse to put the wish of another over my own happiness. โI will talk to grandfather. Believe me, you have nothing to worry about.โ I say and make another attempt to leave but of course, Adam doesnโt give up as he speaks again. โI wonโt sign it Aria, I wonโt sign the goddamm papers!โ โWhat the hel is wrong with you?โ I yell out my frustration, โWhy wonโt you just let me go?โ He stares me down, eyes burning stubbornly, โI wonโt sign the papers and I wonโt accept your resignation either. The company has rules you have to follow and you canโt just decide to resign without prior notice especially when there is a lot of work at the office which I pay you to do!โ I scoff, unable to believe his nerve. Unable to get over his selfish thinking and absolute lack of remorse for the things he has done. โYou have Sophia, donโt you?โ I shoot at him and his brows furrow. โWhat does that even mean?โ โEveryone adores Sophia. She is smart, beautiful and can get your work done for you and oh, donโt forget the fact that she is also pre9nant with your child! How perfect is that?โ Adamโs mother springs up, surprise evident in her features. Clearly, she is just learning about her coming grandson. โAdam, is what she says true? You have a child on the way?โ Eva asked excitedly. Adamโs expression donโt give anything away and he doesnโt even spare his mother or sister a glance. He is still looking straight at me. โAria, what happened between Sophia and I wasnโt intentional, it justโโ โDonโt you dare make excuses for her! Who cares what she thinks? Sophia is who you have always deserved. The only woman who actually deserves to be my daughter-in-law.โ Adamโs mother cut in while making sure to give me a nasty look that doesnโt even surprise me anymore. I shrug at Adam, a way to show him that I was right. Everyone wants Sophia, including him and he canโt even bring himself to deny it. He continues to ignore his mother. โAria, it was an accident.โ He says again and I nod, like I am agreeing to his words. โThree years ago, you didnโt think the same way. You didnโt think you accidentally slept with me but instead believed I had gone as far as dru9ging you to sleep with you. What changed, Adam? Because all I see right now is a bloody hypocrite and a coward who would rather blame others for his mistakes.โ When I turn my back to him this time, I donโt stop walking. I donโt turn around. โAria! Aria, get back here while I am still being nice. Aria, I swear to God if you walk out that door, I wonโt take you back even if you go on your knees. You need me, Aria. You canโt survive without me!โ Adam yells after me but I donโt stop walking as his arrogant words only fueled my desire to get away from him as fast as I can. I block out the rest of his words as I open the door and welcome my peace and freedom. I am never going back to that sad reality. | Read freely | 18 | https://facebook.com/61557986570531 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1716534000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889769 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:22 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188576 | 1723678836 | 1026 | 2131904427181075 | 2 | 9.8381982977949E+14 | 1713164400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 219004054622622 | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | 120209192089050646 | befant.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐Attention! Do not read in public๏ผ๐ | https://befant.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=10765&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1712914615 | 2.1900405462262E+14 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436340649_1807274933118037_64498126994226689_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gyyiaGvLNXIQ7kNvgGyeT2c&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBNeQE7Mp-O8XDvJY4O_eJOr8lz0AKzpTWr9W5-oM9wqw&oe=667E8593 | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Story | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/436316739_301625112969698_5650944653365024657_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=w84PIagLShIQ7kNvgGqzv9i&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYD8eDvhKkKJFL9c-rlp0lCPvc2xGlFjf9hrU8d2L2kvQg&oe=667E968E | 0 | 3 | [Denaliโs POV] โMommy,โ I whimper, hanging on to my motherโs limp hand. โPlease donโt go. Donโt leave me.โ Tears stream down my face as I stare ahead, taking in my mother, who lies motionless in the hospital. Behind me, I can hear my father speaking with the doctors about my motherโs recent diagnosis, but I try to block them out. โYouโre going to be fine.โ For years, my mother has been sick. Her illness was so constant that this was truly the only way that I knew her. For as long as I could remember, she was in and out of the hospital, and with each passing year, her stays grew longer and longer until finally, she wasnโt able to come home. Six months had passed since that day, and no matter what the doctors tried, she just kept getting worse and worse until she was how she was now. In the end, she became a husk of the person she once was, even when sick. โPlease, goddess,โ I whisper, tightening my hold on her hand. โPlease donโt take my mommy.โ How could I possibly continue without my mother? No, I don't want to! She was the one who was always by my side, even when my father was too hard on me. As the daughter of an alpha, I needed to be well versed in all things pack-related and stronger than the rest, but despite my best efforts, I wasnโt able to keep up with his teachings, and when I fell behind, I would be given harsh punishments or sometimes even locked away for a few days to rethink my failings. When this happened, my mother would always be there for me, convincing my father to stop what he was doing. And even if he was so harsh with me, he was always so gentle with her. โDenali.โ My fatherโs voice is even as his hand comes to clasp on my shoulder. โItโs time.โ โNo!โ I wail. โWe canโt! Sheโll die! How can youโฆโ I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek and my head is snapping to the side. With wide eyes, I meet his angry gaze as he glares down at me. โMind your words, Denali,โ he warns, his eyes flashing with rage. โButโฆโ I begin, but stop as a promise flashes in his eyes. โYes, sir.โ Swallowing down the arguments that want to come, I turn my gaze back to my mother and find that the doctor is already working on removing the machines that are keeping her alive. And once theyโre gone, I am left to do nothing but slowly watch her fade away. It was after this day that my life took a turn for the worse. Not soon after my motherโs passing, my father brought a person and her daughter home. And despite hoping that she would fill the void in me that my mother left, I only received pain and suffering. I became a servant to both of them and if I didnโt do things to their liking, I was beaten and locked away for days. When I was free, I was only good for doing the chores and cooking while my stepmother and sister became the diamonds of Emerald Moon, and before long, when I turned thirteen, I found that even if I was the daughter of an alpha, my wolf was nothing more than an omega. After that, I became a pariah and was considered a disgrace. My father pushed me aside and started doting on my stepsister because her wolf was strong and something to be proud of. Even if she was not my fatherโs daughter, she was the golden child and the future of our pack. However, when things became unbearable and I was sure I couldnโt go on anymore, I met Alexander. To say he was my saving grace was an understatement. He saved me, and if it wasnโt for him, I donโt think I would have continued to push forward. On the day we met, I decided to end everything because I couldnโt continue to push on. Thatโs why I found the highest waterfall on the outskirts of town and climbed to the top. After fixing my gaze on the heavens, I begged my mother to find me in the afterlife, and then I jumped. When I hit the water, my body became immersed, and I was roughly pulled through sharp rocks that cut at my skin and tattered my clothes. As I began to fade into the darkness, I was pulled along with the current while life slowly faded from within me. Little did I know that not only would I not die that day, but I would wake up in a small cabin with a warm blanket wrapped around me and a warm hand engulfing mine. Who knew that his single act of kindness would turn into something special that led to a bond so strong that I was sure it couldnโt be broken by the goddess herself? But just as the seasons change, good things have to come to an end. Alexander would become my undoing and the end of the little bit of happiness I had left. Not only him but even my family. My blissful happiness would turn into my spiraling into darkness. A Darkness so thick that I wouldnโt be able to figure out how to get out. But then again, maybe I didnโt want to, and I would end up wanting to stay there for all of eternity. Chapter 2 [Denali's POV] "Yes! " My stepsister, Anastasia's, muffled moans called from the other side of the wall. They were followed by the light tapping, and they echoed around me, making it impossible to ignore them. Of course, the minute our parents go out for a packed gathering, she brings a person home. This was the norm for her; with her good looks and popularity, everyone wanted a piece, and she happily gave it. I wasn't saying that she had a bad reputation throughout the pack, but she didn't have a good one either. However, our parents still considered her the golden child, as she recorded everything and kept it as blackmail to keep everyone quiet. Groaning, I turn over and reach for my earplugs so I don't have to listen to her antics. I had plans for the next day and needed all the rest I could have. "Do you like it rough?" The voice of the one who is with her stops me before I find what I'm looking for and turns my heart to ice. "Yes! Alexander! " At her words, my heart lurches, and I find myself wondering if I'm simply mistaken, as there is no way it can be my Alexander; he wouldn't do such a thing to me, not after everything we had been through and how hard we had to fight to be together. Remaining silent, I extend my senses to hear better what is happening but stop as a much-too-familiar energy presses against my skin, followed by a passion-filled cry from Anastasia. "Yes, Alexander!" "That's right, baby!" He growls happily as Anastasia's cries ring out. " Unable to sit back and listen any longer, I get up and quietly make my way across the room and then into the hall. What was I even doing? Did I intend to catch them in the act so that the betrayal was further concerned? You're right, I was, and that was why I continued to move. Lifting a hand to my mouth, I stop the cry that want to escape from what I'm seeing, as I don't want them to catch me spying, but no matter how much I want to look away, I just can't. "Are you sure she isn't here?" Alexander's voice is filled with worry, which makes this whole situation so much worse. "No," Anastasia pants. "Now stop worrying about her. I'm the one that you're with, not her!" "Okay," Alexander growls, "You have my entire focus." Unable to watch anymore, I turn and stumble toward my room, but stop as the front door opens and the sound of my parents' voices drifts upstairs. They're loud as they move until I'm sure that they're at the bottom of the stairs. "Girls!" My father below, further confirms my assumption. "Come down here!" Eyes widening, I turn and watch as Anastasia comes out of her room with Alexander in tow. When his eyes rest on me, they widen with shock before he moves to try to explain his presence, but I simply give a warning snarl before heading downstairs, where my father waits. "Denali," he says, eyeing me curiously. "Is something wrong?" "No, father," I respond, tearing my gaze away in shame over what he was about to discover. I was already enough of an embarrassment to him and even the pack; this would just further confirm that, and even though it kills me, I can't stop it from happening. "Everything is fine. Better than fine." I already knew that when he saw Anastasia and Alexander together, he would be over the moon, as Alexander was an alpha son and therefore the perfect match for her. From the start, he never thought that we fit, but because Alexander was so determined to be with me, he allowed it. "Daddy!" Anastasia calls before my father can question me further. "You're home so early!" "Yes," he says slowly, taking in Anastasia as she makes her way downstairs with Alexander in tow. "I guess this means my surprise is ruined," she giggles when she reaches him. "Surprise?" My father repeats, raising a brow. "What do you mean?" "Alexander and I are mates!" She announces happily. Eyes widening, I snap my gaze to Alexander as he averts his from me. Matesโฆ Did she just say that they were mates? "Mates?" my father repeats, seeming in disbelief. "But I thought that he and..." "No," I say quickly, not wanting to hear Alexander's denial, not after everything we had been through. "No," I repeat more strongly, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I'm sorry we lied to you, father. We were never mates. I hope you can forgive me for my deceit." As I speak, I drop to my knees and kneel, keeping my forehead against the cold marble as I feel all eyes on me. "This," my father begins, his voice laced with confusion, "will have to wait. Denali, get up this instant. " I quickly scramble to my feet just in time to watch a person dressed in a butler's uniform, stroll into the house. "Welcome," my father booms, greeting him while forgetting about the situation at hand entirely. "Thank you for granting me this meeting," the person responds politely. "Are these two your daughters?" "That's correct," my father chuckles. "Mmm." Growing quiet, the person takes Anastasia and me in for a few moments before furrowing his brows and rubbing his chin. "They are both beautiful, but what of their personalities?" Personalities? Why is this person asking such a thing, and why is he even examining us? "Anastasia is obedient," my father responds immediately. "But Denali has a bit of a temper." "Then the one named Anastasia will do," the person nods. "The master likes his people to be obedient. Please do pack her things; I'll be waiting outside." Chapter 3 [Denaliโs POV] โDad!โ Anastasiaโs shocked exclamation fills the area around us and causes my father to snap out of his shocked daze. Of course, she would have an issue with being sent away to goddess knew where. โWait!โ He gasps, drawing the personโs attention to himself to save his precious daughter. โAnastasia canโt. Sheโsโฆโ โAlready mated to someone!โ She says quickly, pulling Alexander against herself. โI canโt possibly go anywhere when I've already found my fated one, but Denali is single, and she's a great choice." As she speaks, she motions toward me and gives a brilliant smile that I know is all for the show. โThatโs correct,โ my father agrees, coming to her aid. โAnastasia is also still very young and wouldnโt make a good bride.โ โBride?โ I hiss, suddenly understanding what is going on here. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, but a bride wasn't it. โFather, who is she supposed to be marrying?โ It was clear what my fatherโs next words would be, and I wanted to be prepared because I knew that by this point he had already made his decision. โRosco Torres,โ he says slowly, naming one of the most ruthless alphas to exist. Everyone knew that he had a heart of stone and didn't give two shits about anyone but himself. There was even a rumor that he killed his original Luna and mate. โHe is looking for a bride, and since our bloodline is one of the strongest, he is interested in your girls.โ Usโฆ I almost wanted to laugh. โThen why even bother pretending that you have two daughters who could be chosen?โ I demand, unable to control my anger. โWhy not just..." I donโt get to finish my words before my fatherโs hand connects with my cheek, and Iโm sent crashing into a small table beside the door where my stepmother stands silently. As I look up, she meets my gaze with satisfaction before turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Letting out a laugh, I slowly straighten myself while I ignore the pain radiating through my cheek. โMind your tone,โ my father warns before shooting the person who came to collect an apologetic look. โI do apologize for her. Sheโs usually quite obedient, arenโt you, Denali?โ โOf course,โ I respond, deciding to play the part. โI apologize for speaking out of turn; I must be tired after such a long day.โ Satisfied with my response, my father reaches out and wraps an arm around my shoulders so he can pull me close. โYou see, Denali is the best choice for your master's bride. She is not yet mated, and she is one of the strongest in the pack. After all, she is my daughter." Nodding, I donโt bother arguing with my father since I know how things will turn out. No matter what I said or did, I would be the one sent to Rosco, and Anastasia would be allowed to stay here and be with Alexander. โIโm sure your master will be very satisfied with her,โ my father continues now, trying his best to save his precious stepdaughter. โWhat do you say?โ Remaining silent, the person lets his gaze travel up and down my body, taking in every inch of me before shrugging. โI am simply a messenger,โ he finally sighs. โWhichever you decide to send will do as the master wishes to wed and breed with a daughter of Emerald Moon.โ โOf course,โ my father beams. โYou heard him, Denali. Be a good girl and go pack your things. Iโm positive you will be very happy with Rosco.โ โOf course,โ I sigh, shaking myself free. โIf youโll excuse me.โ I donโt wait for a response before I head upstairs and make a beeline for my room. Once inside, I look around, taking in the few things that I own. After my motherโs death, my stepmother made sure that Anastasia was given the best, and I was left with whatever she didnโt want, and most of the time, that was nothing. Moving forward, I head into my closet and grab my suitcase, then place it open on the floor so I can throw in clothes. After Iโm finished, I dig in my dresser until I find a small pocket watch and pull it out. Satisfied that it was still safe there, I began to dig more for my mother's urn, only to come up empty. Panic building, I start to yank out my clothes until I'm left staring at an empty drawer. "No," I whisper, realizing that someone must have found it. "This can't be!" When my mother passed, my father had her cremated and planned to simply throw her away, but I snuck into the trash and saved her. I had kept her here with me since, but now she was gone, and it was like losing her all over again. โMom,โ I whimper, fighting the tears that suddenly want to come. โI miss you.โ If she were still here, then there was no way I would ever be given away like this. Father had changed so much since losing her and finding Beatrice, my stepmother, that it was almost like he wasnโt even the same person. Giving the pocket watch a squeeze, I shove it into my pocket and then close my suitcase before standing and heading back downstairs, where my future husband's servant is waiting for me. โDo you have everything?โ My father asks me as I descend the stairs. โYou havenโt forgotten anything in an attempt to come back, correct?โ โOf course not,โ I respond. โIโve packed everything; donโt worry.โ "May I have a word?" Frowning, I simply nod and wait for him to lead the way. Nodding, my father looks to Anastasia, who is still cuddling up to Alexander while looking pleased, before looking back at me. "Excuse us." Growing quiet, he led me out onto the porch so we could be alone since my future husband's butler was already waiting in the car. โYou better not make a fool out of me,โ he warns, his gaze turning stern. โRemember that this marriage alliance is for the greater good of the pack.โ โI know.โ Of course, I knew that was the reason he was more than willing to give me away; after all, the wellbeing of his new wife, daughter, and him was his only concern. โIf you attempt to run away, I'll dispose of your mother." Eyes widening, I take in his words while trying to find any semblance of the person I used to know, but when I donโt seem to find him, I simply nod. "You took her," I hiss. "How could you?" "Remember your role." โOf course, I know my role and what I must do.โ โRight, then leave.โ Remaining silent, I take in the area around me, knowing that this will be the last time I ever see it. No matter what happens from this point on, I wouldnโt be able to return, and despite knowing that I should be upset and aggrieved, all I can feel is a hollowness that radiates from me. | Galaxy in the Story | 480 | https://facebook.com/61555427913037 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1713078000 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889841 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188609 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 835296768415029 | 3 | 1.5774651297689E+15 | 1715670000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 220948471097418 | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | 120209217541290760 | redtgb.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | ๐ฅ๐ฅClick to read the next chapter for free๐ | https://redtgb.com/market/buenovela/3?lpid=11275&utm_campaign={{campaign.name}}&utm_content={{campaign.id}}&adset_name={{adset.name}}&adset_id={{adset.id}}&ad_id={{ad.id}}&ad_name={{ad.name}} | 1715325296 | 2.2094847109742E+14 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441294898_1180747263111147_2886883073852657658_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Vi76iBtitbYQ7kNvgGMiyPe&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCrI9ep3yTLLWpX7ErD-7975t5J6k5uDjv9sNJ_YIk-Lw&oe=667E739B | person_profile | 0 | Galaxy in the Book | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/441339904_7206376719488104_1130482863920157580_n.jpg?_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=4r-IZyecCbIQ7kNvgEZdmgJ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYC_K0fbQgnT4PToYJnK0OJuRkjvUXfn-gHhc7bh2dADHQ&oe=667E923E | 0 | 3 | โSir, Madam is not feeling well," the butler of the Gannon mansion reported on the phone. The man at the end of the line spoke in a nonchalant tone. "So, take her to the hospital. Iโm not a doctor." The line died immediately. The butler was so pale, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Zora relaxed her back against the sofa, feeling weak from abdominal pains. Trying to mask the pain, she asked hopefully. โWhat did he say?โ The butler instantly put on a calm smile when he turned in her direction. โMadam, sir said he will meet us at the hospital.โ Zoraโs eyes lit up. Ezrah had not been home for almost three days, and she was missing him so much. This sickness seemed to be her lucky charm to get him to her side again. โOkay. Letโs go.โ Zoraโs heart warmed at the fact that Ezrah at least cared about his child. Both of them were caught in a scandal two years ago, so getting married was the only way to curb the situation. Ezrahโs stance was clear through it all. โWhen everything calms down, we are getting a divorce.โ Zora hoped that by that time, she would have been able to melt his cold heart and make him fully hers, so her hopes were high. However, over time, she found him slowly drawing away from her, even when they worked together in the same company and shared the same bedroom. Two months ago, Ezrah returned and asked Zora for a divorce but chanced upon the test results. His expression was dark. โLetโs hold off on the divorce until after the child is born, but donโt expect to remain Mrs. Gannon. That title belongs to somebody else, but itโs definitely not you.โ The marriage after those words had been terrible. Ezrah barely returned home, barely got intimate with her. The only reason she still bore Mrs. Gannon was because of the child in her womb. Zora thought that his reason for being away was because of work since he was the CEO of the Gannon Group, a multibillion-dollar company where Zora also worked as an assistant manager. Unknown to Ezrah, Zora had been secretly in love with him for five years, but that drunk night at her best friend Cocoโs birthday party, Zora woke up in bed with Ezrah. She decided to keep it a secret and a memory she would forever cherish when the media picked up the news. Ezrah could not allow the scandal to ruin his well-kept reputation and cause him losses, so he announced that he and Zora were already dating secretly and were soon getting married. Zora, who had been madly in love with him, was excited about the news of getting married to Ezrah. Zora hoped that with time, his heart would warm up towards her, but that did not happen. Even in her state, Ezrah hardly spent the night at home. On the way to the hospital, Zoraโs phone beeped, and looking at the content, her heart dropped. Ezrah was holding the delicate hand of a beautiful woman, a proud smile on his face. The caption read, โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ Zoraโs eyes were swollen with tears. As they dropped down her cheeks, she refused to believe it. Maybe it was photoshopped. There was never any news about Ezrah dating any woman before she had a baby for him. He never even warmed up to women. The man had long been secretive and kept his face from the media. Also, the butler Rudolph had said that Ezrah promised to meet them at the hospital, so the media must be spreading this false news to gain popularity. Even after everything, she still could not help the unease in her heart, instantly dialing his number. Despite him warning her to only communicate with him through the butler, Zora took the bull by the horn this time. Her call went through, but there was no answer. Her old self would have given up, but due to the unease in her heart because of the news, she couldnโt bring herself to do so. On the fourth ring, a woman answered the call. Her melodious voice made Zora feel less of a woman. โEzrah is in the bathroom.โ Zoraโs hands holding the phone shook, her heart in tatters. Ezrah never allowed her to touch his phone, but this woman casually answered his call, and was he really in the bathroom? Zora felt the pain in her chest worse than that of her abdomen. โWho are you?โ The words forced themselves out of her mouth. The woman responded casually, โPiper, his fiancรฉe. And you are?โ โWhatever he saved my name with,โ Zora responded calmly. The pain of the news was more than she could bear. Though knowing that Ezrah never loved her, she thought they could live in peace for the sake of the baby in her womb, but Ezrah never meant to make her dreams come true. The woman at the end of the line moved the phone from her ear to have a better view of the caller ID. โOh, Zora. If itโs urgent, I could drop a message for you when he comes out.โ The nights Ezrah spent away when Zora thought he was busy at work, it was a great disappointment that he was with the woman he loved, leaving her to suffer with her unborn child. She was still in her first trimester, and due to all the morning sickness and other health issues, Zora had taken a break from working at the company to recover first. Her mind lacked clarity, and she was beginning to doubt all the responses she got from Rudolph when she asked him to get in touch with Ezrah. โJust tell him to call me.โ Zora ended the call. At the hotel room, Ezrah returned from the meeting in the conference room. Since he never allowed anyone to answer their calls during meetings, he equally left his phone in the presidential suite meant for his relaxation. โWhat are you doing with my phone?โ He asked as soon as he entered the bedroom. Before Piper spoke, he asked again, โand I made it clear that you should wait for me at the lounge. How did you have access?โ The pout on Piperโs lips only made her cuter as she faked anger. โIs it wrong for me to come? We would have gotten married if Zora had not appeared.โ Ezrah was a man who loved to keep his love life private. He and Piper had been in a secret long-distance relationship. The night they arranged to meet at the birthday party of one of his business partnerโs sister, Piper had an emergency and could not attend as planned. That night, he mysteriously ended up in bed with Zora, an incident that should have been brushed under the carpet until the media took hold of it. Not wanting his well-maintained reputation to crack, he apologetically married Zora, promising Piper to divorce Zora secretly after two years when the news dies down. Things took a different turn when he found the test result after promising Piper that he was ending things with Zora. โI told you I was working on it. You should keep yourself hidden away from the press. We shouldnโt be seen together.โ Ezrahโs voice was stern. It was business for him first, and he didnโt want Piperโs presence to ruin it for him. Piper was uneasy at the reminder. Forcing a smile, she relayed, โI could be your confidential secretary. Please Ezrah, I donโt want to be away from you anymore.โ Ezrah did not give a response. His actions were always well thought out. It wasnโt easy for him to be the CEO of the legendary Gannon Group as the youngest of three sons. Any wrong move and his elder brothers would begin to fight for the position. โDid anyone call?โ He was scrolling through his phone when he caught sight of Zoraโs name. โYeah. Zora. She said you should call her,โ Piper responded with a smile, her fingers sliding over her exposed thighs as she lay seductively on the luxurious king-size bed. โWhat did you tell her?โ Ezrah frowned a little. He wanted to keep Piper a secret until after the divorce. โI pretended not to know about her existence.โ Piper lifted herself to a sitting position, and due to the long slit of the dress, her full thighs were exposed, but Ezrahโs attention was on the phone in his hand. โDo me a favor and donโt answer my calls again.โ His voice had lost its warmth. Piper faked remorse. โIโm sorry. I thought it was urgent.โ Ezrah finally held her gaze as he spoke roughly, โNothing about Zora is ever urgent.โ Chapter 2 Piper was very happy with his remark, but Zora was still Misses Gannon, the title Piper had long coveted. How she wished that night had not happened. If only that useless man had not appeared when she was about to leave for the airport to board the private jet, she would have been the one waking up in bed with Ezrah. It pained her that it had to be that woman, Zora. โEzrah, are you sure you will divorce her?โ Ezrah hated to be doubted. โYou donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her.โ Piper smiled with satisfaction, and since she had mentally stored Zora's number after answering the call, she sent the recording to her. Remembering that the butler had called Ezrah informing him that Zora was sick, she asked after deleting the audio from her phone. โCan you go shopping with me? I didnโt bring enough clothes.โ Even if Zora showed the audio to Ezrah, Piper would deny it as she had used a number Ezrah didnโt know to send it. โI have another meeting in two hours, so you have an hour and a half to finish shopping,โ Ezrah said softly. Zoraโs heart tightened in her chest when she played the audio. The butler who was driving the car felt helpless, equally disappointed in his boss. Zora asked from the back seat of the luxurious car she was seated in. โDid he really tell you he was coming to the hospital?โ The butlerโs throat went dry. He always succeeded in making up excuses for his boss, but this time, everything backfired. That audio destroyed everything. โIโm sorry, maโam. I just didnโt want to see you sad.โ Zoraโs heart twitched, a bitter smile curled the corner of her lips, feeling like a fool as tears welled up in her eyes. She was nothing to Ezrah. The little surprises sent to ignite her hope were merely prepared by the butler. No matter how hard she tried, she couldnโt recover from the pain as she felt a force hit the car from the side, causing it to swerve off the road and somersault thrice. The butler was instantly unconscious. Zora felt unbearable pain, blood sputtered from her mouth and nose, then in between her thighs. No words could describe the agony as she watched the life draining out of her with intense pain settled in her abdomen. She managed to pick up her phone, which had fallen to the side from the impact, dialing her husbandโs number. Unable to lift the phone to her ear, she activated the speaker. โZora. Iโm busy.โ That was what Ezrah said as soon as he answered the phone, not waiting to hear what she had to say. After all, nothing about Zora was ever urgent to him. Before she lost consciousness, she heard the laughter of a woman with the words, โEzrah, I want these shoes.โ โTry them on. If they fit, you can have them.โ โSo, shopping with a woman is what you call busy.โ That was what Zora thought before losing consciousness. Zora woke up at the hospital after hours of surgery. Her face was as pale as a ghost, her countenance pitiful. Her butler, Rudolph, sat at her hospital bed, a smile on his face. He had sustained a few injuries, but they were not serious, and he was already discharged. โMadam, you are awake. Thank God.โ Zora was glad to see that Rudolph was fine. There were just bruises on his face. He quickly rushed out to call a doctor. โMrs. Gannon, how are you feeling?โ The doctor asked as he examined Zora, writing a few things on a writing pad he carried along. Zora was only concerned about one thing. โHow is my baby?โ Zora asked. The doctorโs eyes dulled. โIโm very sorry, but your baby couldnโt survive the impact.โ Tears brimmed in the back of Zoraโs eyes, but she fought them back. She lost everything. She left her fatherโs company to work for her husband, nurturing his business and enduring all the taunts of his arrogant family. At twenty-three, she had nothing to show for the man she had secretly loved for five good years. โItโs alright. She would have just suffered anyway.โ Her heart had turned cold due to the loss of the child. โExcuse me?โ The doctor was shocked. He expected her to cry like any woman in her situation would, but Zora bottled it in. She could endure all of Ezrahโs indifference towards her, but she would never forgive him for the loss of her child. That woman appeared, and Zora suddenly got involved in an accident. The case had to be investigated, but as for Ezrah, he no longer had a place in her heart. โSorry, that was not directed at you.โ There was no warmth in Zoraโs apologetic voice. The doctor forced a smile, finished his examination, and left. Zora stared at the butler at the doorway. He stood there since the doctor arrived. Zora was about to tear down but couldnโt do so. She had been weak for too long, leading to the death of her child. If she had left the first time Ezrah asked her for a divorce, this would not have happened. When she discovered this baby, she decided to consent to the divorce and leave. At least, she would have his child to remind her of the relationship they once shared. Unfortunately, the test result fell from her handbag, Ezrah saw it. Even when he decided for them to wait until after she gave birth, his treatment of her was no better. โWhere is Ezrah?โ Zora asked. Butler Rudolph was scared. He could feel the cold in Zoraโs voice, and even with the distance, he could feel the chills. โMadam, the man who hit us was drunk, and he died on the spot. The police are not able to contact his family either,โ Rudolph reported, trying to avoid answering her question. He was a middle-aged man. Zora did not believe the report but kept it to herself. The moment she discovered that the man she respected so much was lying to her, her trust in him dwindled. She will find ways to investigate the matter by herself. โThat isnโt my question.โ โBoss left here a few minutes ago,โ Rudolph answered. Zora was enraged this time. Not only Ezrah but Rudolph, the butler Ezrah assigned to her, was equally taking her for a fool. โDonโt lie to my face again.โ Her voice was stern and full of contempt. Rudolph pursed his lips, his head lowered. โBoss said, and I quote. โItโs rather unfortunate. Let the doctors take care of her. Iโm very busy at the moment.โ Zora knew what he was busy with. It was the woman whose voice she heard in the audio. She thought she was strong enough to take it, but a tear fell from her eyes before she could stop it. Ashamed of showing her weak side in front of Rudolph, she discharged him. โThank you, and please excuse me.โ Rudolph was never supposed to leave Zora's side, so he was reluctant. โMaโฆโ โI said, excuse me, Rudolph,โ Zoraโs voice raised, Rudolph decided to wait in front of the door. โOkay.โ As soon as he left the ward, Zora dialed a number. โSophโฆโ โDad, Iโm sorry. I made a mistake, and now, I lost everything.โ Zora didnโt hold back her tears as she spoke to her father on the phone. He was against the marriage the moment he realized that Ezrah did not feel the same way Zora felt about him, but she was optimistic, insisting that Ezrah would change. Expecting her father to scold her an, โI told you soโ lecture, his voice was rather soft as he asked her. โWhat happened, Zora?โ โI had an accident and lost the baby. Iโm coming home.โ The silence at the end of the line was deafening. She knew her father was saddened about the loss of his grandchild. When she was about to end the call, he suddenly said, โOh Zora. Iโm coming to get you. Just send me your location.โ Zora refused. She couldnโt leave until she was legally separated from Ezrah. โNo dad, I have a few things to do first.โ โWhat is that? Let me help you with it?โ Her father eagerly said, but she was in no mood to burden the middle-aged man. The loss had caused Zora to mature so fast as the reality of life hit her. No more would she depend on anyone. It was time to do something worthwhile with her life, but first of all, she will still have to face Ezrah for the last time. โDonโt worry. Itโs nothing I canโt handle. โOkay. We shall prepare your welcome party. I will inform your mom.โ Zora smiled and didnโt refuse her fatherโs kindness. Three days later, she was discharged from the hospital. As she waited for Ezrahโs return, she got the divorce papers ready. It was three days later in the dead of the night when Ezrah returned, tired-looking but his attractive features remained untouched by his fatigue. Zora had lost sleep, waiting for Ezrah during most of the days. As soon as she heard the sound of the car, she quickly rushed downstairs but paused on top of the stairs when Ezrah walked through the door of the living room. Arriving home, Ezrah no longer met the woman who always met him with a smile. She stood on top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, โGood news Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us, so letโs get a divorce.โ The man who was always cold to her instantly panicked. He stood momentarily frozen. Chapter 3 Ezrah was baffled by the news. Twice, he had asked her for a divorce and saw how gloomy she turned at the subject. This was what he wanted but he couldnโt help the unease filling his heart. Was it because Zora was the one asking? Was she trying to mess up his reputation with the loss of the child? Ezrah was confused. Zora descended the stairs, walking to the dining table. Ezrah did not utter an acceptance or rejection of her request for a divorce and went up the stairs, returning after ten minutes in loungewear. Seemed he wasnโt going out or was it the shock from the news? Seeing the dinner table hosting different delicacies, excitement filled his heart as he took a seat. If she really wanted a divorce, then she wouldnโt have cooked for him. At this moment, Piper was momentarily forgotten. Ezrah avoided Zoraโs gaze as this was the first time she was so cold to him. Without alerting her of his arrival, she still ensured that his supper was ready. As he uncovered one of the dishes, his eyes darkened as he glared at her. It was not the food he was expecting but rather, the cold divorce papers, with a pen beside them, waiting to be signed. โWhat is this?โ Ezrah was furious, being famished from not having time to eat. In times past, Zora would have been worried and tried to appease him but that Zora was gone. After crying her eyes out for days, she waited to serve Ezrah these cold documents, she had no more tears to shed but her eyes were dangerously red. โDo I need to get you a pair of glasses?โ Her voice was taunting, as she saw the shocked expression on his face. He must have taken her request as a joke the first time but the documents exposed the reality. โWhy? Were you expecting me to cook when I had no idea when you will be home?โ Ezrahโs expression was blank. She could have made the maids do it. It burned Zora that she could not read his emotions but she didnโt care anymore. โPlease sign the papers. In case the prints are too tiny, I got you a magnifying glass,โ she dropped the item in front of him. Ezrah was not irrational. When he asked for a divorce, he ensured that there would be nothing for the media to feed on but now that they just lost a child? What will people think? His parents liked Zora, except his two elder brothers who always saw her as a threat. The situation was complicated now. Ezrah never thought she would stand on it to ask for a divorce because of how she always claimed to love him, not caring if he was just cold to her. He needed time to think. โWe shall talk about it later,โ he finally said and was about to stand up when Zora played an audio from her phone. With her mind made up, she wanted the divorce here and now. The woman in front of Ezrah was different from the one he always came home to. She always wore attractive clothes with a little makeup to seduce him which sometimes worked but after his release, Ezrah would return to being cold. Today, Zora did not have on any makeup. Her hair was not even combed. All she wore was pajamas, her long dark hair looking lifeless, in contrast to Ezrah who was looking so attractive. He had the looks and physique Zora used to die for but not anymore. All she felt for him now was resentment. She suddenly matured past looks or smartness in a man. What was there in being hot and a genius in business when there is no conscience or empathy? Zora was just seeing that the man she has always been obsessed with was a selfish monster, caring only about his own image, money, and passion. Whatever blinded her eyes before was removed the moment she woke up on that hospital bed. The voice from the audio was as clear as daylight. A female and a male but the male voice was indeed that of Ezrah. Female: Iโm sorry. I thought it was urgent. Male: Nothing about Zora is ever urgent. Female: Ezrah, are you sure you will divorce her? Male: You donโt believe me? Iโm only with her because sheโs carrying my child. As soon as heโs born, I will divorce her. Zora caught an expression of guilt on his face but there was no remorse. His voice was hard. โWhere did you get that?โ He demanded. Piper could not have done this, right? She had no contact with Zora. But it was just the two of them in the room. Were there secret cameras? Though confused, his expression returned to being blank. โYou have to destroy that audio before I sign this paper,โ he threatened her. Zora could not tell how she managed to pretend that she was fine. Up until now, he didnโt even care to apologize for sharing their private information with whatever name he calls the woman in his life. What on earth could have made her fall in love with such a man? He was different from that man from a long time ago who saved her from the pool when she was bullied by some jealous friends. Ezrah did not remember that day but that was when Zora fell in love with him. She calmly showed him another caption on her phone. โMr. Ezra Gannon admits to reigniting his love for his old flame, Miss Piper Henshaw.โ This time, Ezrah paled but his eyes were dark and he picked up his phone instantly. He couldnโt find the person who took those pictures and how they went viral but had to get someone to take them down. The hacker would also be able to find out who sent that information to the press. Zora had grown thorns after listening over and over to the audio and reading that news on her phone. Ezrah had already told her the same thing so this shouldnโt hurt. โIt doesnโt matter. The hindrance has already been removed and you already have a woman waiting for you. Just sign the freaking papers.โ Chapter 4 Ezrah paced back and forth elegantly, his mind filled with confusion and fear after ending the call. โYou want to blackmail me? How much do you want?โ He was enraged and disdained that Zora would resort to such means, but he was willing to pay to prevent the audio from going viral. His parents would not hesitate to demote him despite his hard work in the company, while his lazy elder brothers would benefit without putting in the effort. โWhat I want, you already gave, but since the accident took it away, there is nothing you can give me.โ She did not disclose her suspicions, as she had someone investigating the matter. Ezrah suddenly laughed mockingly. โYour fatherโs company is not as strong as you think. He has been seeking an alliance with me. You want fifty percent of my hard work.โ This could be the reason Zora was pushing for the divorce. Fifty percent from the Gannon Group would elevate her family business to new heights. She felt bitter that he would think so poorly of her. Despite her feelings, she kept her composure. โNo. You were the one who proposed the divorce, so were you planning to leave me with nothing?โ Her question left him speechless, and she reminded him of the prenup agreement. โDid you forget that I signed a prenup before marrying you? I just refreshed your memory so you are free to sign.โ Ezrah recalled that Zora had willingly proposed and prepared the prenup when they announced their marriage after the scandal. She did it all to prove to him that she wasnโt โinterested in his wealth. He suddenly felt uneasy. This was not the scenario he had anticipated when he entered the room. Besides, he was hungry and not in the right state to make such a decision. What if Zora was being supported by one of his brothers or both? โYou may have dismissed it, but it's only a matter of time before you reveal that you left with nothing.โ Zora struggled to suppress the pain that came with realizing that Ezrah's delay in finalizing the divorce was not due to developing feelings for her or guilt, but rather to protect his image in front of the media and family. She felt a bitter smile form on her lips. โTrust me, nothing about our divorce will be leaked to the media.โ โI donโt believe you,โ Ezrah responded bluntly. Zora had worked closely with him, and despite her absence from the office in recent weeks, she was privy to confidential information. Ezrah had never seen her as a threat due to her infatuation with him, but now he feared she might make his life difficult. โAs soon as the papers are signed, you wonโt hear from me again. You can have a happy life with the woman you love,โ Zora proposed. Ezrah was already contemplating how he could benefit from her disappearance after the divorce. It seemed like she wanted to start fresh somewhere far away. โAlright. Iโm not heartless. I will still give you 50 million,โ he said as he signed the document, only to find that Zora had already signed her part. After signing the divorce agreement, Ezrahโs phone rang. Seeing it was Piper, he answered it and began to climb the stairs in long strides. Piper keeps breaking the agreement. She wasnโt supposed to call him when she was home. Zora overheard him on the phone, โAre you the one who recorded our conversation at the hotel?โ She couldnโt hear Piperโs response but had the conviction that it was her. Deciding it was best to spend the night on the sofa, Zora couldn't fathom sharing a room with him after their divorce. She was too exhausted to move to another room. Her sleep was restless, prompting her to wake up before Ezrah. She had already packed her bags, so she dressed and approached him. โEzrah, itโs time to finalize our divorce in court.โ Ezrah woke up and looked at her glumly. She was still in a somber mood, her eyes red despite the makeup. He sighed, โjust a few minutes.โ An hour later, they arrived at the divorce court. With Zora having made prior arrangements, the process was swift, and they soon had their divorce certificates. Without hesitation, they signed their respective portions. โYou should keep your word and leave New York for good, or else you wonโt like what I will do,โ Ezrah warned solemnly. Zora had a faint smile on her face. โI have a gift waiting for you at home.โ Ezrah frowned, wondering what kind of gift she arranged for him after their divorce. Zora has always been generous, buying him gifts and anything she knew he would like. He would neither accept nor refuse them. Whereas, he never used any of the gifts she bought for him. They left together, but Zora departed in a cab against his wishes to drop her at the airport. She reiterated that he would never see her again. Ezrah felt conflicted but remembered his promise to Piper. Despite his desire to head straight to the office for a meeting, curiosity got the best of him. He rescheduled the meeting and drove home to see the gift Zora had left for him. Upon arriving, he found a letter on the dining table addressed to him. โEZRAH.โ He couldn't recall seeing it earlier that morning, and a sense of unease crept over him as he approached and opened the letter. It was written in Zoraโs handwriting, unmistakable to him. As he read the words, fear, panic, and regret flooded his heart. The letter slipped from his trembling fingers as he cried out, โZORA, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?โ | Galaxy in the Book | 74 | https://facebook.com/61555646245426 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1715324400 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889869 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 8/14/24, 6:40 PM | 1719188612 | 1723678837 | 1026 | 706700098194817 | 1 | 1.4332856276096E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 145409685488567 | 0 | Clark County Public Library | 120207253927610427 | www.ccplohio.org | Contact us | NONE | video | Welcoming Environment For Everyone | Enrich your mind. | https://www.ccplohio.org/ | 1705555345 | 1.4540968548857E+14 | Clark County Public Library | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/420443221_387184330645355_1353091158674098252_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=7lfFwOZB-nsQ7kNvgFVG_Vm&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAS1kkoYHHHOQRbeRfZVX89hqpsNJuBDJyynfANWv4XuQ&oe=667E741B | person_profile | 0 | 0 | 3 | Dive into the sea of knowledge with our extensive resources. Feed your curiosity and expand your horizons. | Clark County Public Library | 3943 | https://facebook.com/ClarkCountyPublicLibrary | 0 | CONTACT_US | 1706601600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889883 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/8/25, 1:54 PM | 1719188613 | 1746730460 | 1026 | 479377841292783 | 3 | 2.8149727219944E+15 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120216103911210151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1718288271 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448370767_970828161190752_7514814088847865012_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=T-SusNChtLcQ7kNvgEnyKMd&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDOFha66lHg_imKksaICcny8fGKG17hGukHiLIjsa76YA&oe=667E8671 | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448230757_452773017359042_2413912362755680244_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=zQlO4fo2K8IQ7kNvgGyZDhy&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBitiGumJNysvI16fSnrItF9rwwDRG7CNJtDCMdUZ9HrQ&oe=667E7891 | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT26DXsGy6sU8X0yqStCx4ZCIRHX9CHer5hYXz5Jn_Ley-dUw_IFMiThpy5UPiFEu6jsDo13cshNLgHJmooeYy-mhOd6xDhrfXihZjmYP-no7geswEL2e7jMLnclTrUV6nrKguaqdkr31oatBSIXL7xGmdS5-g" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889865 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/26/25, 6:57 PM | 1719188612 | 1748303858 | 1026 | 1686347275506961 | 1 | 1.1187830158895E+15 | 1719039600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 321329421069249 | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | 120210802240180354 | www.medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ชTransform Your Face & Body with Our Rejuvenation Treatments | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/aesthx-04-optin | 1718746837 | 3.2132942106925E+14 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448507740_363265186867814_718570180618302355_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=d8HNtnAkT_wQ7kNvgE4mUWS&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYD1YP92UhPXSuI8ywEkv8n9PU63AyQDKe2henbGLvczzw&oe=667E9F00 | person_profile | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448762638_486697877222659_7971460490857161003_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=sl-g42zXFhAQ7kNvgEckQrf&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYA9t_p5wLnvi2zQ9p6kwzKip_oBT1AWQ4G4rzhCedd5Jw&oe=667E941A | 0 | 3 | ๐ฃ ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> ๐ Say goodbye to saggy skin and hello to a more youthful look! ๐<br /> <br /> โ Our personalized treatments can lift, tighten, and enhance the face and body, all while being safe and non-invasive! ๐โโ๏ธ<br /> <br /> ๐ฐ For a limited time only, claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular Body & Facial treatment packages, including:<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Lifts the jawline, eyelids and eyebrows to smooth and improve overall appearance!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ($๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats wrinkles, skin discoloration and scars, typically on the face!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ($๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Quick collagen inducing treatment which can improve pores, fine lines & wrinkles, loss of elasticity, minor scarring (including acne scarring) and sun damage!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น (๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Gently & permanently reduce or remove hair from any area of the body!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats dark patches and spots on the skin to speed up the process of cellular turnover! Treatments are safe, effective, and good for all skin types and all forms of Melasma!<br /> <br /> ๐ฉโโ๏ธ Here at ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ซ Our experienced team works to create a treatment plan tailored to each individual's unique needs and budget.<br /> <br /> Don't wait!! Request a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ now and take the first step towards a more confident you! ๐ฏ<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim the offer! ๐ | Aesthx - Aiea | 2 | https://facebook.com/61560821612119 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889882 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/21/25, 7:14 PM | 1719188613 | 1747872844 | 1026 | 428522790144939 | 3 | 7.6683416227657E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120216103911880151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1718288255 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448048303_354472850679800_1173622473941073857_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=KKGVHXmnKvkQ7kNvgFAJBdo&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAbgJpS_e88oDchcn6xBQ_w2wVhMFEEC4uR-ydjxo5eFQ&oe=667E9642 | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448261618_3315210618775894_8327096791645613569_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=O16m-QzC3MoQ7kNvgF7SdP5&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCzezKOFP0fjnb_9ULQlyJ_k7AT9ZkGvCKoGUa_ML5gXQ&oe=667EA8B5 | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT3TDzW-sz32x1EihDDM2blhCOZCfNI22dg4OSF3dM3CpCRNfWUJ8X1EZOqOICJTMxiVduJBkdpfCxnBIh1FbKkFvOMMMoahMivolsjwNSBlwHZ8jrtNgkwgHunyR8iJ5LvjfF4wRPPBVgHuLbs_vZVifyAUig" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889875 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 4/29/25, 4:21 PM | 1719188612 | 1745961664 | 1026 | 351920397928208 | 1 | 2.5781547904825E+16 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 325257210674037 | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | 120210844359960782 | www.medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | video | SEMAGIUTIDE: Fast & Sustainable Results! | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/melt-medical-14-optin | 1718900604 | 3.2525721067404E+14 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448765560_1016376666860786_1575110976428736382_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lJ0J-ZIrMxsQ7kNvgFzU-j0&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYB6J4fvYeI0kv_MrTyWybVkQcVVXaIdlI9V-6Mt9nhOCA&oe=667EA367 | person_profile | 0 | Melt Medical - Burbank | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448561283_312376171943887_6612594938973501011_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=N4Fsp5dKQMUQ7kNvgHYVBaw&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYBTJKxhGbMrbc8QJ-2JVZikhQ9yZYOS26skBhmGueJpYA&oe=667E926E | 0 | 3 | ๐โโ๏ธ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฝ๐ช๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐ & ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> Are you tired of feeling stuck in a cycle of dieting and weight gain? ๐<br /> <br /> Our ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ can help you break that cycle and achieve the results youโve been looking for! ๐ช<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + $๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ treatment plans, making it easier than ever to get started! ๐<br /> <br /> So letโs say goodbye to the old you and hello to the new, healthier, happier you! ๐ | Melt Medical - Burbank | 0 | https://facebook.com/61560447488435 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718866800 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889863 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 2/8/25, 3:42 AM | 1719188612 | 1739007747 | 1026 | 1554538598744868 | 1 | 7.8162031075975E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 321329421069249 | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | 120210802241170354 | www.medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ชTransform Your Face & Body with Our Rejuvenation Treatments | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/aesthx-04-optin | 1718746843 | 3.2132942106925E+14 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448533373_455373390446706_2961009868676348659_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=SNYPUQ3fKnoQ7kNvgEY50JZ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCFQC3PJ7_7YfEtCvZf1l0FvV1nQM3NKTOn7BhJsMgJYg&oe=667E802D | person_profile | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448534617_553590407241691_4384458042778661074_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=lJ1s3yGh7T0Q7kNvgH1R-3J&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCMs7zrzOAINR4-TQ4EyG8cPC-gryJ98BDij1O_TXEQgw&oe=667E9444 | 0 | 3 | ๐ฃ ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> ๐ Say goodbye to saggy skin and hello to a more youthful look! ๐<br /> <br /> โ Our personalized treatments can lift, tighten, and enhance the face and body, all while being safe and non-invasive! ๐โโ๏ธ<br /> <br /> ๐ฐ For a limited time only, claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular Body & Facial treatment packages, including:<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Lifts the jawline, eyelids and eyebrows to smooth and improve overall appearance!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ($๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats wrinkles, skin discoloration and scars, typically on the face!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ($๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Quick collagen inducing treatment which can improve pores, fine lines & wrinkles, loss of elasticity, minor scarring (including acne scarring) and sun damage!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น (๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Gently & permanently reduce or remove hair from any area of the body!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats dark patches and spots on the skin to speed up the process of cellular turnover! Treatments are safe, effective, and good for all skin types and all forms of Melasma!<br /> <br /> ๐ฉโโ๏ธ Here at ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ซ Our experienced team works to create a treatment plan tailored to each individual's unique needs and budget.<br /> <br /> Don't wait!! Request a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ now and take the first step towards a more confident you! ๐ฏ<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim the offer! ๐ | Aesthx - Aiea | 2 | https://facebook.com/61560821612119 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889862 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 2/9/25, 7:55 PM | 1719188612 | 1739152547 | 1026 | 1415424252469555 | 1 | 1.5427773132552E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 321329421069249 | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | 120210802241210354 | www.medicalspapromos.com | Learn more | NONE | video | ๐ชTransform Your Face & Body with Our Rejuvenation Treatments | https://www.medicalspapromos.com/aesthx-04-optin | 1718746845 | 3.2132942106925E+14 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448643289_1233642650934234_3987230035039902863_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=Izcgw1hvYKMQ7kNvgG3o441&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBMlBVGU-yHPOAgkTLheGcvAWhGuMBuHEkqCWzvf3l7VQ&oe=667E9B39 | person_profile | 0 | Aesthx - Aiea | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448694224_451618884237143_1496404328660400718_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c7IGXwiW9D0Q7kNvgE-CiJ_&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAO6UqF4wwB1IviEptEx40jFnPjvQ4A9EEBO4phacw7eA&oe=667EA0A3 | 0 | 3 | ๐ฃ ๐ผ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ช๐ง๐ง๐ค๐ช๐ฃ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ผ๐ง๐๐๐จ!<br /> <br /> ๐ Say goodbye to saggy skin and hello to a more youthful look! ๐<br /> <br /> โ Our personalized treatments can lift, tighten, and enhance the face and body, all while being safe and non-invasive! ๐โโ๏ธ<br /> <br /> ๐ฐ For a limited time only, claim a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ good towards our most popular Body & Facial treatment packages, including:<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Lifts the jawline, eyelids and eyebrows to smooth and improve overall appearance!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ($๐ญ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats wrinkles, skin discoloration and scars, typically on the face!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ($๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Quick collagen inducing treatment which can improve pores, fine lines & wrinkles, loss of elasticity, minor scarring (including acne scarring) and sun damage!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ฟ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐บ๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น (๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Gently & permanently reduce or remove hair from any area of the body!<br /> <br /> ๐ ๐ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ ๐ฆ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ($๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ณ๐ณ): Treats dark patches and spots on the skin to speed up the process of cellular turnover! Treatments are safe, effective, and good for all skin types and all forms of Melasma!<br /> <br /> ๐ฉโโ๏ธ Here at ๐๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ซ Our experienced team works to create a treatment plan tailored to each individual's unique needs and budget.<br /> <br /> Don't wait!! Request a ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ฑ๐ & ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ท๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐๐น๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป + ๐จ๐ฝ ๐ง๐ผ $๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฌ ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ ๐ฉ๐ผ๐๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ now and take the first step towards a more confident you! ๐ฏ<br /> <br /> Click [LEARN MORE] to claim the offer! ๐ | Aesthx - Aiea | 2 | https://facebook.com/61560821612119 | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1718953200 | View Edit Delete | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888935 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 5/9/25, 10:46 PM | 1719188465 | 1746848792 | 1026 | 856834883170787 | 1 | 4.3576031258E+14 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 560184967681778 | 0 | Italo Jeweler | 120210319428320722 | www.italojewelry.com | Shop now | NONE | video | best seller | โ 60-day Return & One Year Warranty | https://www.italojewelry.com/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=fb-1130-02&utm_campaign=1211-17 | 1718262144 | 5.6018496768178E+14 | Italo Jeweler | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448330023_964339858505152_2869014160556129919_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=c3su11SlJWMQ7kNvgEvinP3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAVkO0bSNCz4axyJpc0HczGYBh2X17o0a6iR-VgBPu8aw&oe=667EA7D1 | person_profile | 0 | Italo Jewelry | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448353788_1126637811927160_7031222712210847347_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=g5w1L96BoZIQ7kNvgFsm7rj&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAs8_GzXwnsLW3tfHrsY2vnWniZ24i2QTP3GNOL3AkEmA&oe=667E81F3 | 0 | 3 | The perfect blend of fashion and classic.๐<br /> โ Any order 10%off & more promotions enjoy now<br /> Shop Now๐:<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fitalojewelry.io%2FCwo&h=AT3U2FZi76j0AZZcN8mkUNazPmaAsrbz-wFrD5LregqCjjxza2Ww7UWmtQtY0D35GcPun4zQ8s_oIAoJ4q-bahxGliqq4BtKXLF9UTTnl5raOuWmDdFxpMCmMVS9PNXXkMWe7WZkqTFpOsYd86lbxAgqAROsuA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">http://italojewelry.io/Cwo</a><br /> Free shipping & 60-day return๐ฉ | Italo Jeweler | 19110 | https://facebook.com/italojeweler | 0 | SHOP_NOW | 1718694000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1888875 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:21 PM | 6/3/25, 8:55 PM | 1719188463 | 1749002126 | 1026 | 969830678217723 | 1 | 2.168353993542E+15 | 1719126000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 0 | 1 | 0 | 929096003945397 | 0 | Free Legal Reviews | 120211842302520566 | freelegalreviews.com | Learn More | NONE | dco | Check Eligibility for Roundup Settlement | Free, no-obligation consultation | https://freelegalreviews.com/roundup/0002/?src=broad&cid_itd={{campaign.id}}&asid_itd={{adset.id}}&aid_itd={{ad.id}}&placement_itd={{placement}}&platform_itd={{site_source_name}} | 1719170497 | 9.290960039454E+14 | Free Legal Reviews | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448765026_983709603206736_8441811651710302003_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=102&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=5GBtUHwWuEwQ7kNvgFXJF20&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYCtRlJm3E5jXqihuI73nlFjRG0QuVqkbdPho6w39QtaTw&oe=667EA424 | person_profile | 0 | Free Legal Reviews | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/449002195_2188483204854498_3009453057468893990_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=VKA1fgJVF4oQ7kNvgE7JgKT&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYC_T348D-8SLE1DGxZaiGfNcmwAjeDOcruLkFeEzSev2Q&oe=667E9E59 | 0 | 3 | Developed Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma after using Roundup? If diagnosed within the last 20 years, you may qualify for a substantial settlement. See if you're eligible in just 60 seconds. โก๏ธ | Free Legal Reviews | 4243 | https://facebook.com/freelegalreviews | 0 | LEARN_MORE | 1719126000 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889880 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/10/25, 5:21 PM | 1719188613 | 1746915673 | 1026 | 367732689249660 | 3 | 8.2350443263935E+14 | 1718780400 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120216103911850151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1718288260 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448321505_497828619246054_320821683479074620_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=MVnFtnMoVlEQ7kNvgGZpiN3&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYD83VnBEEV8iMTBEEU8CeBff3iAOKoYbE18GjUU_lM-tw&oe=667E867E | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448321377_1108709766887278_1279319432697266672_n.jpg?_nc_cat=104&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=GrrlmPYqBNMQ7kNvgGEbIXE&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYAGN2EtWjCbDGlz7rrzh7WSz3dOeG5bQYuYzl7Ie6G7tg&oe=667E735E | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT1X9oY-7I0JYjG6UG2alA5OipS36kTAu9dbqgJJdfTm4rDKq1eZe2uI76D6I5BTeC_VafnNIra0yE6wL7mrwAeeRgrY9-ilItNqWI-eFMVgPbA7b65FxeVcbUkIcYs7NYj-xbEsMVZUzytkN2XvxflTTqr11w" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 1889895 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/11/25, 10:16 AM | 1719188613 | 1746976590 | 1026 | 317408964639427 | 3 | 3.7650433206542E+14 | 1718175600 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120215999697280151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1717772310 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447276931_1212739233424621_8915887491775537581_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=auaaxmn5lnsQ7kNvgEarHD2&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYAnhNE9nPkxQpx2ip9CGQN-0IF6_Hl9ueVE3EZt2TGkrA&oe=667E72F6 | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/447786516_872173128259817_692701277841249667_n.jpg?_nc_cat=106&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=2LDz8FkgkK4Q7kNvgEolv3X&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYDuVTF8BCfa8n3u24Ru9E95KQSPMlmtFlYgm5CeixZFyw&oe=667E75A8 | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ โ <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT0tvIbvA0iIEc6fE8YoO-GslVV7H9RQer1OwoCYIfCvWOghjX9_lLkn2KpI2J6ZMgKEsiOTADsRtAyNU1KmAMy0dZKtctZs5tB4sH6MGV0-6dTNYuabsKDm8W3JPWUpuBT8ZL67USR7tYrHxKS4WiaF3tVXmA" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1717743600 | View Edit Delete | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1889884 | 1 | active | 6/23/24, 7:23 PM | 5/2/25, 12:48 AM | 1719188613 | 1746164934 | 1026 | 994067552178417 | 3 | 8.3557051137632E+14 | 1718694000 | person_profile | eligible | 0 | 0 | NONE | 1 | 0 | 0 | 105522468575480 | 0 | Vocalfy | 120216103910630151 | vocalfy.com | Download | NONE | image | Hire World-Class Singers Now! | Click here ๐ | https://vocalfy.com/hire-singers | 1718288293 | 1.0552246857548E+14 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448160891_813904140396122_7422921634788816859_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60&_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=uYyIPJZI2FUQ7kNvgE4wieK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=00_AYBK58cO_8NlCxQqiFcX5Ty9yatmrw12bUVGXjCXjzDdQQ&oe=667E7E69 | person_profile | 0 | Vocalfy | https://scontent-iad3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/448353112_1374171446594387_1516016270569805722_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=gRH1NKKcKcAQ7kNvgGpReyK&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.xx&oh=00_AYCQdNrhkf5oquC3zWBSsd84cFKs83_vLVt1fYM8RyQu3w&oe=667E77AC | 0 | 3 | Tired of overused and low-quality vocals? <br /> <br /> Hire world-class singers and level up your music instantly with Vocalfy. <br /> Our singers have worked with Netflix, Spinnin' Records, and Universalโฆ<br /> <br /> So you know youโre getting the best quality out there. <br /> <br /> โ 100% royalty-free<br /> โ Fast delivery in 3-10 days<br /> โ 100+ singers and rappers<br /> <br /> Find the perfect singer for your track now: <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Fvocalfy-hire-singers&h=AT3ZhLN4x3nba8UGyhFnre14uKha0IvclqMDMK8TJ9tD8FDYHDvcG9-oqrg5rzF-wZIcLlva9wqZKyas-bgvhSg5D49RRSO-XZKVwgGZVfyQI0TwGtCW2AqAlaCtcZ7dOCmxpgkqk-RW7amhrgnHEH3c942I7g" rel="nofollow noreferrer" target="_blank" data-lynx-mode="asynclazy">https://bit.ly/vocalfy-hire-singers</a> | Vocalfy | 1887 | https://facebook.com/100076230931991 | 0 | DOWNLOAD | 1718348400 | View Edit Delete |